By Dale Gieringer, Director, CA NORML
Like many medical marijuana users, Kristin Redeen needed additional prescription medications for her severe chronic pain. For seven years she had been treated at a private pain clinic in the Central Valley, where a doctor maintained her on Percocet, a semi-synthetic opioid. One day Kristin was unexpectedly asked to submit a urine sample.
“They already knew about my medical marijuana use,” says Kristin, who contacted California NORML. “I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong.”
When the test came back, Kristin was informed that the clinic would no longer renew her prescription because she had tested positive for an illegal controlled substance. Her doctor at the clinic cited legal concerns, claiming –falsely– that DEA regulations forbid giving prescription narcotics to users of marijuana or other illegal drugs.
Kristin was cut off from her Percocet and began suffering seizures. She finally found a physician who was willing to prescribe her another opioid, Vicodin, but only at low doses insufficient to relieve her constant pain.
Kristin is one of a growing number of medical marijuana patients discriminated against by pain clinics. “I must have heard of 25 cases this year,” says Doug Hiatt, an attorney in Washington state. “It’s Jim Crow medicine.”
NORML has received a surge of complaints within the last six months. Many medical marijuana users report that they can’t find a clinic willing to take them on. Others, like Kristin, have been abandoned by clinics that suddenly adopted aggressive drug-screening policies.
Clinics say they are legally compelled to drug-test chronic pain patients so as to avoid liability for overdoses and diversion of prescription drugs, particularly opioids such as oxycontin –which have nothing to do with cannabis.
Chronic pain patients have good reason to object to being denied medical access to cannabis. Chronic pain is the leading indication for medical cannabis use, accounting for 90% of the patients in Oregon’s medical marijuana program. More than 60 studies have shown cannabinoids to be effective in pain relief, according to a compilation by the International Association of Cannabis Medicine which includes four controlled studies of smoked marijuana by California’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research.
Studies indicate that cannabis interacts synergistically with opioids in such a way as to improve pain relief [1, 2]. California medical cannabis specialists consistently report that patients are able to reduce use of opioids –typically by 50%– when they add cannabis to their regimen. Cannabis can therefore be seen as a gateway drug leading away from opioid addiction. Nevertheless, patients are being pressured to stop using cannabis if they want to get prescription opioids.
To their dismay, patients have to pay for the drug tests at their own (or their insurers’) expense. Carol, a chronic pain patient who had been treated for seven years by the same clinic without any testing, reports that she was billed $325 for a urine screen. The balance of the bill, which totaled $1,601, was paid by her insurer.
Carol says her doctor told her that “the DEA requires him to drug test all his clients, that he has no choice, it is the law.”
In fact, there is no law requiring clinics to drug screen patients for marijuana. “It’s BS,” says Hiatt. Not a single case is known in which pain doctors have been sued or prosecuted for allowing medical marijuana use along with opiates.
Prosecutors have argued that marijuana might be obtained on the illicit market in trade for prescription drugs, though such a scenario seems implausible in medical cannabis states. “It’s unwarranted paranoia,” says Gregory Carter, MD, one of the few practicing pain experts who recommend marijuana in Washington.
Given that cannabis is notably less toxic and addictive than other prescription narcotics, it seems highly ironic that pain clinics are discouraging its use. The prejudice against marijuana has nothing to do with medical science, but rather with political and legal pressures to crack down on prescription drug use. Non-medical use of prescription drugs has recently emerged as the nation’s number-one drug problem du jour.
A new government report, ominously entitled the “National Prescription Drug Threat Assessment,” reported 8,500 deaths in 2005 from prescription pain relievers (mainly opioids), more than double the 2001 total. “Diversion and abuse of prescription drugs are a threat to our public health and safety – similar to the threat posed by illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine,” warned Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske.
The Pain Specialists’ Meeting
The 2009 American Pain Society Convention in San Diego included a panel on “Cannabinoids in Pain Management,” chaired by Dr. Mark Ware of McGill University. Dr. Andrea Hohmann, an expert on stress-level analgesia from the University of Georgia, presented evidence from rodent studies which showed that cannabinoids suppress nociceptive processing through both the CB1 and CB2 receptors, and that endocannabinoids, including 2-AG and anandamide, help suppress pain.
Donald Abrams, MD, of the University of California at San Francisco, discussed his studies showing that inhaled marijuana significantly reduced neuropathic pain experienced by HIV patients. Cannabinoids and opioids interact synergistically on separate but parallel pain receptors, Abrams said. He is conducting another study on combined use of cannabinoids and opioids, preliminary results of which appear promising.
Dr. Ware discussed studies involving the variety of cannabinoid medicines available in Canada, which include dronabinol, Sativex, Nabilone, and herbal THC. All of them have demonstrated efficacy in pain relief. Cannabis is now recognized as a “third line” agent for neuropathic pain in Canada. Noting that that its adverse effects are mild to moderate, Ware concluded that “cannabinoid analgesia is the real thing.”
During the question session, your correspondent asked why it was that, in light of evidence that cannabis was so useful in pain therapy, there appeared to be an upsurge in drug testing to prevent its use. The panelists could offer no explanation.
We moved on to the exhibition hall, where drug testing companies were conspicuously displaying their wares. Their exhibits showed how well their products could monitor usage of opiates. The exhibitors seemed surprised when we told them that their products were being used against medical marijuana.
One of the more sophisticated exhibitors was Ameritox, which boasted panels for distinguishing a dozen different opioids plus numerous sedatives, tricyclic anti-depressants, barbiturates, and stimulants as well as “drugs of abuse,” among them marijuana. Their saleswoman seemed surprised to hear that the Ameritox test was being used to screen out medical marijuana patients. She said that clinics could easily order the screens without the marijuana if they wanted.
Another company boasted how their test could be administered at the doctor’s office, thereby allowing the doctor rather than the lab to collect the bill.
Finally, we spoke to a legal expert on pain medication, Ms. Jennifer Bolen, a former prosecutor turned defense attorney, who has a useful website devoted to the subject:
www.legalsideofpain.com.
Ms Bolen pointed to three recent developments that have increased the pressure to conduct drug screening of pain patients. First, pain doctors have suffered a string of stinging legal judgments for over-prescribing opioids to patients who subsequently overdosed. One notable example involved Dr. Thomas Merrill of Florida, whose life sentence was sustained by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals last year.
This February, a prestigious panel of the American Pain Society issued “New Guidelines for Prescribing Opioid Pain Drugs” which counsels that “diligent monitoring of patients is essential. “ The report specifically recommends periodic drug screens for chronic opioid patients at risk for aberrant drug behavior, though it doesn’t mention cannabis.
Lastly, under legislation that took effect this year, the FDA has new authority to require pharmaceutical companies to implement “risk management” programs to prevent consumer drug misuse.
Medical cannabis patients have no easy remedy to the current drug testing onslaught. In the absence of dire bodily harm, malpractice suits are of no avail. In general, pain clinics have no legal obligation to treat anyone. They commonly require patients to sign contracts allowing them to conduct drug screening at will. Nonetheless, patients may have good grounds to complain to their state medical boards. This is particularly the case where they have been abandoned by their doctors after being made dependent on prescription narcotics.
The ultimate recourse is to educate doctors, many of whom remain woefully ignorant of the literature on medical marijuana and chronic pain. At the APS convention we encountered a distinguished pain specialist from San Diego, who joked about having enjoyed the marijuana muchies with his son, but averred that he wouldn’t let his patients use it, on the grounds that it wouldn’t be useful, and anyway smoked medicine is bad for the lungs. Like most convention attendees, he had missed the panel on medical cannabis, where Dr. Abrams had discussed the use of smokeless vaporizers.
Still, good physicians should be open to persuasion from patients. Cynthia, a severe chronic pain patient. had frequented the same clinic for 10 years when she was confronted with a surprise urine test. In addition to prescription opiates, she had been using medical marijuana, though her recommendation was four years out of date. The test cost her $100 and her insurer $500 more.
On finding her positive for marijuana, her doctor informed her that she would have to reduce her cannabinoid level to zero. After a heart-to-heart talk, in which she explained to him how she had been able to reduce her opiate use to minimal levels thanks to medical cannabis, her doctor relented. “I feel really lucky,’ says Cynthia, “You have to feel out the doctor. We have a special relationship. I don’t think he plans to do this with all his patients.”
REFERENCES
[1] Lynch and Clark, “Cannabis reduces opioid dose in the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain,” Journal Pain Symptom Management, (2003) 25(6) 496-8.
[2[ Narang et al., 2008 Efficacy of dronabinol as an adjuvant treatment for chronic pain patients on opioid therapy, J Pain. Mar;9(3):254-64.
From O’Shaughnessy’s, Summer 2009
To order this 52-page, all-content, no-jive publication, send $5 to p.o. box 490, Alameda, CA 94501. O’S is available in bulk to physicians, collectives, cooperatives and reform groups for $1/copy for free distribution to patients and interested citizens.
Un-fucking-believable. So this is what those crooks, the DEA, are sinking down to now? How fucking low can they go? Taking away the rights and medicine of doctors’ patients??
WHERE’S THE JUSTICE IN ALL THIS???
THE DEA ARE CRIMINALS!!
I totally agree. I have seen people who were taking opiods for many years tested and their medications taken away. My biggest concern is over half of those people are now upgrading to street drugs and are using meth or heroin. The street prices have doubled for those who can find the medications they were taking for many years. I have seen good working people chance into iv drug users and some just plain junkies. Our government may have had good intentions, but the reality has become a nightmare. Street dealers are thrilled however, and they won’t be seeing any tax money from them. I’m unsure who had this great idea, but they need a reality check up.
I would like to add my 2 cents worth here also. I have been treated by a general practitioner for 5 years now to manage pain caused from an injury to my thoracic spine in which a disc has bulged into my spinal cord causing it to flatten which causes severe pain when using my arms. I have been with the same doctor for about 4 years now after losing my original doctor due to a failed ‘surprise’ urine test. When I secured my second doctor, I told him up front that I used cannibis and his response was he had found it helpful for many things, as he was a user during his own cancer treatment. I asked about problems with the govt. and he responded that he didn’t care about the govt.I had to sign a ‘contract’ that allowed for testing. He stated that he would not test me unless he had a reason. He had been prescribing MS Contin-30mg twice a day and up to 60mg of Vicodin per day along with 10mg of Valium per day to control muscle spasms. Since MMJ isn’t legal here in Wisconsin, even the best local smoke didn’t help as much as MMJ, but it did help with the spasms. The last time I saw him, about a month ago, he demanded a drug test. I told him that I would probably fail because of MJ. He said that he would ignore that part.
Today, I received a phone call from his office stating that he was uncomfortable treating me anymore and has washed his hands of me and my problem. I have not received the results of my test as of this writing and I wonder if I have any recourse.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Jacki
Normal has lawyers listed for this type of issue. It would be your best bet. I don’t receive anything for my pain now, my Dr even took away somas. I will not take another urine test.
I have M.S. and the pain clinic threw my out with no medicane for testing postive and I cant get pack in one at all so I know the feeling. Pot helps me better than anything else I have tried my doctor knows this yet I cant get it, just not fair!!!
Scary stuff. The seizures could have led to a fatality by choking or falling.
This is just criminal!! They cant show that cannabis has EVER killed anyone. They cant show that cannabis is worse than any other drug onthe market(or blackmarket for that matter). Yet they work so very hard to make life difficult on cannabis users. I think the day will come when they will try and remove all rights from cannabis users. HOW THE HELL ARE CANNABIS USERS SUCH A DANGER THAT YOU(DEA AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS) THINK YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RUIN THE LIVES OF GOOD PEOPLE?!?!?!? AMERICA? I think not! The day will come when America will change for better or worse. It just depends on who wins…the people or the government. This is socialism !! Communism comes after that.
Amazing how much the DEA and pharmaceutical companies really hate Cannabis.
Just a side note: Its reasons like this that I havent used cannabis for a very long time. I wont be til we get it legal. It was my fathers death that really got me in this fight. Cancer. He could have dont much better without the the drugs they pumped into him. It was terrible what these man made drugs did to him.
It goes beyond the simple pain management aspect. People on disability have been told testing positive means instant disqualification and the potential to be sued for damages to repay monies spent on their care. I was aghast when I saw that paperwork to be signed.
What I think is another major flaw is that we are paying out tons in additional tax dollars to test for “illicit” drug use at a rate much higher than what is often quoted to the public. How many times have you been told that drug screens only cost about $50-100? Somehow the costs of administering these tests have escalated higher than the cost of buying a Tylenol in a hospital. It is not uncommon of late to see the actual bill show anywhere from $600-1000 for a simple urine drug screen.
People wonder why we cannot afford to provide medical care? Simple corruption for a dipstick test is just one of many examples.
The other problem is of course doctors basically getting out of the “pain management” business. I was no longer able to get a normal prescription for a non-narcotic migraine medication because it came under their “pain management” rules at my previous care provider. Needless to say I had my insurance company reverse the bill for that last visit. They also referred me to a “pain specialist” who had a contract that had to be signed stating I needed to submit to random drug testing and that results could be made available to law enforcement.
Who knows. Maybe in a few more years we wont be able to even get a simple Tylenol for a headache over the counter without having to see a pain management specialist first.
1 David says:
“How fucking low can they go”
David…A man must know his limitations. Evidently… they don’t have any limitations… let alone a conscience to guide them from those unconscionable acts, especially when they are sworn to do no harm.
Let me ask you David…Would you go to a Doctor if you knew he was on the mortician’s payroll? If you knew the inner workings of medicine it would shock you. So let’s leave it at that. I don’t want to blow your mind. How can I say that…you ask. 35 years a healthcare consultant and mediator should be enough
credentials.
How low can they go? To new depths I’m sure!
I hope NORML can use this and Bob’s case to make the general public aware of what our government is doing to the sick people of this country in the name of prohibition. How can anyone with a heart do this to a person in severe pain. What a bunch of truly evil people. I hope someday the have the misfortune of being in pain with no relief insight so they can experience what they have done to these poor people. This is the most shameful thing I have seen in the name of medicine. What happened to first do no harm!!!
Do we really want the government involved in health care? This scares the shit out of me and I’m nearly fearless. I guess this sort of thing is the Obama administrations way of reducing the demand for cannabis. These people really need to be voted out of office and soon.
Hey heres another thought people,If you think this is bad now…Whta do you think it will be like if the government is providing health care? What kinds of “restrictions” will they place on people? This is getting scary people!!
Anyone getting the Idea theres something blowing in the wind that we are not aware of?
So much for change in the USA the only change iv seen in the last year is less change in my pockets.
i take oxycodone 10.325 5 times a day i don’t use weed thou i would like to see it legal for all people over 18 old enough to die in combat old enough to use weed but that’s a nether rant any how the morons in the FDA and DEA not only want to keeps you hippies down buy want to keep old squares like me in pain also by taking away the oxycodone and hydrocodon all so we as a country need to think more before we vote and in the upcoming elections vote wisely as soon even the freedom to do that will end FREE THE CANABIS FREE THE US PEOPLE
It seems to me that the DEA, while having responded to Barack Obama’s order to not raid medical pot centers, is also responding to the new direction of turning some of the control against medical pot in the public health direction. However, it’s resulting again in severe discrimination against med pot users.
It still sucks. Why not just use all the damn jails built in the ’80s, make a real statement against pot and just use law enforcement (another Obama hallmark).
It’s going to take many years and lots more casualties in the U.S.A. to result in any real change. There’s just too much policy antimarijuana types (Obama!) want in place. It’s typical of the policy against the people. Unbeliveable.
This happened in California where the voters have already spoken? Someone put that woman on Montel.
Maybe,as with the pharmaceutical companies,kickbacks from the local dispensaries to the clinics would stop this. Money always grease the wheels.
This makes zero sense, if not negative sense. It’s OK for these doctors to prescribe addictive, synthetic and expensive chemicals similar to heroin, but not a natural plant that is not physically addictive that anyone can grow anywhere.
Follow the money trail right up to MegaPharma, Inc.’s nose on the way to the gummint’s ass.
damn i agree with everyone that has posted on this page…THIS IS JUST TWISTED SCARY…the same old stuff I here everyday. I wonder if their is ever gonna be a revolution in this country because that is what we need!
The misfortune increases.
Theyre just mad because the money being spent on pain relief through MJ is not going to them or big pharma.
How is this not obvious?
Well, I guess I won’t ever tell my doctor that I smoke weed then. Sucks, but I guess you have to play their game to win.
I get this constantly, this is why i use cheap community doctor clinics, but only see a cannabis friendly specialist. They dont line their lab coat pockets with blood money from thr pharmy companies. I have 5 qualifing illnesses in colorado and use absolutely no pharmies just four different types of cannabis treatments. PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES FUND THE NEW WORLD ORDER, STOP THEM DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS AND JUST USE POT!
I feel her pain, 3 years ago I too was denied help for a depilating pain ailment from a doctor in Nashville TN. I had been seeing this Dr. for 4 years during which he had prescribed many different drugs that provided no or little relief from my pain. During this time a friend suggested I try Marijuana, which I did and had good results easing my pain. A random drug screen showed I had been using Marijuana and the Dr. released me from his care. He dumped me on the street with no recourse, no referrals to different Dr. nothing. This man (I hesitate to call him a doctor) knew the meds. He was prescribing did little to help me but one positive test made me unworthy of his care. It’s like I don’t deserve care because I used Marijuana. This seems like a violation of his oath to help people in pain, oh but I’m not a person, I’m a marijuana user.
It’s not hard to understand that the “pharmaceutical companies are the biggest drug cartels in the world…and…pharmacies are their dealers.” Don’t think for a moment that the FDA and MD’s arent a vital clog in the mechanics of it all. “ONE HAND WASHES THE OTHER.” What really pisses me off…more than anything
…is their advertising of drugs prior to doctor’s prescribing them. What really, really, really pisses me off is their disclaimers…some even telling us that we may die if we take the drug. Well…we damn well know that that’s the truth. But, I guess that’s alright as long as they tell you you’re going to die, or at the very least have serious side effects from it’s use.
Well!…that takes care of the legal drugs. What I want to know is…WHO’S CONTROLLING THE ILLEGAL DRUGS?
Don’t even start to tell me it’s some foreign drug cartels…because…they’re getting the “go ahead” from
a higher source as well.
A guy I know had the same thing done to him?? Is this crazy or not..
If you’re using marijuana for medicine, why would you need opioids? (Unless you were being treated for something as serious as cancer, hiv aids or wasting disease.) Doesn’t that undermine the idea of the usefulness of marijuana as medicine for pain relief?
Isn’t that one of the arguments for medical legalization, that it reduces the need for the other addictive\harmful medications?
Either way, please don’t blame the doctors. It’s not a personal slam on the marijuana community. -They have to cover their own asses from the ever watchful DEA/GOVERNMENT.
I am so glad to have a pain Mngment Doc that tells me if I was in a Medical state he would be writing me a script for Med Mj , that’s the Med of his choice.
He has done 1 urine Test at the begining , I told them about my mj use they laughed and said as long as we don’t find any illegal drugs in you you are fine.
Awesome Doc and few and far between….Troll
This story touched home with me during one of the worse times in my life. The doctor treated my inofrmation about medical cannabis as a joke and treated me like a criminal and forced me to take urine tests only to look for my personal choice for treatment with chronic pain. What has become of the oaths these Doctors took to do no harm!
They are pissed that MJ is slowly chipping away at Big Farm’s huge profits. They are scared that the word on MJ is getting out, and soon no one will need they’re poison.
#19 420Viper Says:
July 7th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
“This makes zero sense, if not negative sense.
It’s OK for these doctors to prescribe addictive,
synthetic and expensive chemicals similar to heroin,
but not a natural plant that is not physically addictive
that anyone can grow anywhere…”
RE:
Oh 420,
you MUST remember this “fact”…
[begin SARCASM]
,,,That the PLANT is a CRUDE-form of pain-management,
and that PILLS are FAR MORE ADVANCED,
therefore, MORE medically-ACCEPTABLE….
[end SARCASM ]
#1 David Says:
July 7th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Un-fucking-believable. So this is what those crooks, the DEA, are sinking down to now? How fucking low can they go? Taking away the rights and medicine of doctors’ patients??
WHERE’S THE JUSTICE IN ALL THIS???
THE DEA ARE CRIMINALS!!
RE:
Math for TRUTH-SEEKERS:
DEA = Dead-End Atrocities
I’m on the east coast, I get drug tested in order to get medical treatment, our tests are two a year at a whopping $3,000 per patient, I refused to pay for mine so the gov pays for mine, I live on less than $7,000 a YEAR like most on disability, I also pay for my own medical insurance, which won’t pay for the tests, that would have been half of my yearly income. I was told two things by my pain management clinic, the federal government harasses the clinics so much that it is safer and easier for them to just test the patients, even though my clinic is privately owned and does not receive any government funding they are severally harassed by the feds, the other thing I was told is that Marijuana is safer than anything that they could prescribe to me.
hey gals & guys!
make sure to register & vote for the LATEST IMPORTANT CANNABIS POLL
http://www.newsvine.com/_question/2009/07/08/3008931-should-california-legalize-and-tax-marijuana-to-help-solve-its-budget-crisis-
Jo, someone to have to pay 3000 out of pocket for a drug test to rule out cannabis use is outrageous.
OBAMA, you need to OVERHAUL OUR DRUG POLICY in CONJUNCTION WITH OVERHAULING OUR HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY.
This makes me so mad I’m almost in tears!!
I’m on vicodin and if I was in a MM state I would be on that too. But hearing this is scary shit! I can’t believe they are wasting time on this!? We have so many other problems in this country right now why waste the time and the funds to do this? I just don’t understand it?
Drug companies make shit on my vicodin, it’s generic and without insurance cost only $15. Cheaper then pot. Why would anyone care if I use pot? It’s not like they’re losing tons of money?
I just can’t believe they would do this to people. It’s so sad. It makes me want to leave this country. I’m almost to the point where it’s just not worth fighting for.
#28 Ethan Says:
July 8th, 2009 at 11:47 am
If you’re using marijuana for medicine, why would you need opioids? (Unless you were being treated for something as serious as cancer, hiv aids or wasting disease.) …..
Isn’t that one of the arguments for medical legalization, that it reduces the need for the other addictive\harmful medications?
RE:
Ethan,
To look at it another way…
– If one is prescribed opiates,
(which often induce heavy-duty NAUSEA),
why should cannabis be disallowed for relieving it..?
…especially since cannabis is
safer / far LESS LETHAL than most
commonly-prescribed anti-emetics,
(anti-cholinergics).
I read somewhere that the only thing that makes we humans different from other life forms on the planet is our need/desire to medicate.
And once upon a time a really cool officer (before the over-zealot came to town) and I were conversing. He was pro-MJ himself and uses it.
Within our talking I mentioned the fact that, “if it is supposed to be so toxic then why do the deer, rabbits, dogs, grasshoppers and everything eat it?”
I could see that it gave him a grin.
I’d just like to add that Jesus Christ was sent from heaven as were we. He was special in bringing God’s TRUE words to instill upon us to comfort our pain and suffering.
Basic human logic. Amen.
This so-called prohibition is quite clearly to me the anti-Christ on earth right now but the prophecy in the Bible confirms these changes (long, long overdue changes) to rapidly come about. Yes indeed THE CHANGES ARE COMING…maybe too slowly for some but not for others. Woops curses foiled again that old bad spirit who possesses alot of people but this IS God’s world! Amen.
Why go to a doctor at all..?
– They’re just another MERE human-being
with a questionable-education!
– DARE to think for yourself…
and avoid the middle-man!
37 anon
We have more problems in this country than you can shake a stick at…serious problems…that threaten us as individuals…as well as a country…but…you need only remember this…”We’re fucking with their CASH CROP.” There’s a reason why cannabis is the #1 used substance in the world…because it’s wonderful…and
…”My Evil Brother”…is going to protect that CASH CROP at all costs.
#35 Jeff Hi there! Thnax for newsvine.com – very easy indeed. I will pass it one for sure. Let’s cast our Votes to “Yes” we can.
So if Cannabis is the wonder pain medication, why in the world was she taking an opiod? Could it be cannabis realy isn’t a great pain medication and she was just taking it to get high?
There is a reason Drs. screen their patients for substances other than what they are being prescribed. They do not want to prescribe something that is going to cause an adverse reaction if you are self medicating with something else.
Common sense here.
this is injustice…first of all who gave the doctors their phD’s who willfully ignore the science behind cannabis…and why the hell r they taking needed opiates because of unrelated medical canabis usage…INJUSTICE
#43 is 100% right.
Now if you’ll bye that, I have some ocean front property for sale in Arizona.
to “Ethan” and “Cannabis for Pain Says”
some reasons why a patient takes opiate with medical marijuana
Most pain patients don’t get stoned just like when they take opiates they get more normal or normal, if they want to get stoned than they can, just like opiates they take more.
there are other things in MMJ than just THC that help with sickness, pain, mood as well as curative. most patients health improves with MMJ, where pharma opiate patients health decline.
1. opiate do not have anti inflammatory, anti nausia, cancer cell killer, etc, MMJ does.
2. Opiate does not reduce seizures or spasms or nerve damage pain which MMJ does.
3 Opiate does help with new injuries, as well as deep bone and muscle pain, MMJ helps body to use the opiate and also allows smaller dosages of opiates which is good because opiates damage the body, the mind and the mood in a negative way where MMJ doesn’t.
4. MMJ helps take the patients mind off of the sickness and pain which reduces stress and suicidal tendencies which go hand in hand with long term chronic pain. Opiates cause depression and nervousness and sleeplessness and nausea and constipation so the less opiate that a patient has to take the better off they are.
did you not read the whole article? or do independent research?
43 Cannabis for Pain
You need to do a little more homework. Your statement would however sound reasonable to a prohib.
Cannabis works well with any other medication.
I too suffer from sever chronic pain that is lifelong after a failed back operation. I went through a couple of these forementioned Pain Clinics. The last one that I was at prescribed me 10-12 of the strongest vicodin per day as well as many other pills. I felt like a zombie most of the time. I got sick of this feeling like this so I asked to take my dosage down and quit taking any other pills. A week later I was called in for a “random” pill count. I was told that it would only take a minute, as I was on my way out of town. After the count was fine they insisted that I wait around and have a urine screen. I told them that I couldn’t. I had a long drive ahead. They dismissed me as a patient because of this. I went w/o any meds for a couple of months with the help of marijuana. I couldn’t do it and went back to my family daoctor and got back on a few pain pills a day. I do so with the help of marijuana. The problem with this is that I can not be honest with my doctor because I live in a state where this makes me a criminal.? It is a fucked up system, at best! I long for the day when we may all have access to medical marijuana! The whole prohibition is such a bunch of shit! It is time for us to get off of our asses and do something about it! Viva La Revolution…of words!
P.S. All that I can find is regs illegally, which doesn’t give me near the relief that better marijuana does. WE should all have safe, legal access to high grade smoke to help what ails us! IT IS A HARMLESS PLANT!!!!!!!!
I had a very similar experience with my pain management doctor; I was given a surprise piss test and failed because I smoke marijuana for pain relief between doses of Percocet. My doctor released me and I now only have marijuana when I can get it for the extreme pain from several crushed discs. I have been unable to find another pain management clinic that will accept me because now my records contain the fact that I am a regular marijuana user. Medical marijuana isn’t legal in my state and not likely for many years (Georgia).
Ethan Says:
July 8th, 2009 at 11:47 am
If you’re using marijuana for medicine, why would you need opioids? (Unless you were being treated for something as serious as cancer, hiv aids or wasting disease.) Doesn’t that undermine the idea of the usefulness of marijuana as medicine for pain relief?
Isn’t that one of the arguments for medical legalization, that it reduces the need for the other addictive\harmful medications?
Either way, please don’t blame the doctors. It’s not a personal slam on the marijuana community. -They have to cover their own asses from the ever watchful DEA/GOVERNMENT
Isn’t that one of the arguments for medical legalization, that it reduces the need for the other addictive\harmful medications?
REDUCE THE NEED FOR.. That is the point.. Just because ones need for a painkiller is reduced doesnt mean they DONT NEED IT AT ALL. Your ridiculus statement only proves that you are not in any type of pain, dont know anyone suffering in pain, and have no sympathy for those who do.
Goodday sir,
And i do hope you burn yourself with your coffee on the way to work tomorrow
Number 43 you sir are a moron, Why are you wasteing your time posting retarded comments like that on the NORML.. go to http://www.change.gov and post that crap noone here is going to listen to that garbage. Anyone in serious pain knows that not even opiods take the pain AWAY unless taken in very high doses. I have a wonderful pain MGT. DR. but my pain isnt totaly treated even with heavy opiod use. If there is a plant.. a non toxic non addicting non lethal plant, that can compliment my legitimate opiod use then who the fuck are you to tell me i cant use it? If these DR’s can hand out perscriptions for heroin like substances why in the hell cant they compliment it with a , and i repeat , non-lethal , non-addicting – non-toxic plant?
Number 43 i hope you or someone you love has the chance to experience the hopelessness involved with chronic pain without much help in sight.
#43 Cannabis for Pain Says:
July 9th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
“So if Cannabis is the wonder pain medication,
why in the world was she taking an opiod? ”
RE:
Cannabis for Pain,
– Pain-relievers act on varied / different nervous-system
pathways to provide relief.
– Opioids provide relief by affecting opiate-receptors and
cannabinoids provide relief by affecting cannabinoid-receptors.
– Also, their specific pain-relieving properties
DIFFER from one another…
– Cannabis relieves certain types of
pain-conditions that opioids don’t,
(and vice-versa).
– Also mentioned before in #38,
cannabis relieves opioid-induced nausea
far more safely and effectively than commonly-prescribed
and OTC anti-emetics.
(Which primarily consist of
anti-muscarinic anti-cholinergics,
such as diphenhydramine and belladonna-alkaloids,
a class of compounds FAR MORE dangerous THAN cannabis!)
“Could it be cannabis realy isn’t a great pain
medication and she was just taking it to get high?
RE: A person taking cannabis for pain-relief isn’t
“getting-high”.
They’re becoming normal,
REPLENISHING their body’s endo-cannabinoids,
(internally-made cannabinoids),
depleted by pain-condition(s)…
“There is a reason Drs. screen their patients for substances other than what they are being prescribed…”
RE:
They’re scared shirtless of the DEA / Fed-RULL-Gubermint,
over the presence of technically-outlawed plant-compounds that shouldn’t be illegal in the first place, i.e. cannabinoids…
“They do not want to prescribe something that is going to cause an adverse reaction if you are self medicating with something else.”
RE: While this is a perfectly-valid concern,
the strongest cross-reacting medications / foods are
ALL on more lenient CSA-schedules,
(if even scheduled, i.e. ALCOHOL, grapefruit, caffeine),
than the one medication that produces the FEWEST
adverse-reactions, CANNABIS.
20,000,000 aressts? I’m not sure about the rest of you but o-o-o-h…dang it that sure hurts!
CRP YOU ARE BUSTED…WE ARE DOING AWAY WITH YOU IDOTS’
DARK AGED DILERIAM TOO! go …..!
“…NOT TO PLANTS CROPS??????????????” RIGHT NOW?????????? TODAY??????????????? JULY 10 2009.
I have never in my 54 year-old life heard of this ludicrious thinking until now. Where have these people come from?
Oh and by the way; if anyone wants to go terra-farm Mars with me jump on board! Please just bring the seeds oh no please DO NOT FORGET THE SEEDS.
Mary Jane is lost somewhere too within this sea of sanity? or is it insanity?
I just read about the 1998 ‘Barr Amendment’ passing legislature within administrative laws. Oh Thank God. Amen.
70% APPROVAL – WAY TO GO CONGRESSIONAL MEN AND WOMEN OF AMERICA…THANK YOU…ITS ABOUT TIME…we know the tune. Music to our ears ‘Michael Row The Boat Ashore Hallelluah…Michael Row The Boat Ashore … Amen.’
I only saw one potential prohibitionist/lobbyist (43.) on here…that’s a good sign. It shows that common sense may prevail, hopefully soon. As more Americans learn the facts about medical cannabis, these paid liars will increasingly have to go incognito.
This pharmaceutical McCarthyism is literally killing people. Physicians are being coerced into violating their hippocratic oaths (first, do no harm!) in favor of hypocritical oaths (we can’t help those that help themselves) that are spewed by big business interests like the other toxic sludge they pour into our environment.
At least President Obama gave the states the go-ahead to “experiment”. That’s the key; one state at a time, prove the efficacy of a non-toxic herb versus big-pharma’s stranglehold on our health.
Shame on the governor of Hawaii (vetoing studies!). Censorship at its worst. I’m pretty sure she’ll be overturned on this one, but we all must clamor for this critical reversal of a disastrous decision regardless.
It’s time for Americans to put their feet down (march) and demand the DEA, FDA, NIDA ad nauseum and misguided, malfeasant governors stop trampling our constitutional rights.
Pot apologetics
vs.
Pot apologies
apologetics:
2. Formal argumentation in
defense of something,
such as a position or system.
apology:
1. a written or spoken expression
of one’s regret, remorse, or sorrow
for having insulted, failed,
injured, or wronged another.
Women in Utah refusing to become a polygamists’ wives’
wives’ wives’ were run into the desert to be their postitutes under a fictional guise of “Nevada”.
They love adultery; welcome to good ‘ole Utah and their cult of good ‘ole boys.
Dear Oprah would you like to hear my story of slavery?
Oppression? Silenced muffled voices of the meak?
Tune in everyone.
S.L.C. Lead in obesity, child abuse, internet child predators, mental illness, cross-breading cousins until no one ever knoes who’s who anymore.
My God this sickening sperm banks’ shit…somebodies’ are really geeting their DNA gene pools crossed so it’s not just the mormons neither. It’s no wonder they are so damn wierd!
In is an injustice to everyone. It needs to end and end quickly. Amen.
I am disgraced today, sorry folks, oh so sorry.
Wendy ReNae Warr Elorriaga
The concept of any prohibition comes from the definition of a sumptuary law. A sumptuary law attempts to control and divide people into classes by limiting the desires of those considered the lesser class. Generally monarch type governments use sumptuary laws to inflict class separation through prohibiting the lesser class from participating in something reserved strictly by the so called upper class royalty.
Any 4th grade student understands this country was founded on the principles of individual freedoms.” A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.” -Abraham Lincoln U.S. President. These same people pushing prohibition would be targeted for treason investigation had they been around during the founding of our country! Don’t Be fooled American people any prohibition enforcement against us is as UN-AMERICAN as Hitler!!
Mary Jane is Free…
….She Just Got Out!
– I do hereby request medical marijuana industry to become legal world over and global wide for the safety and resurrection and sanctity of our homes and welfare. Amen. May It Please Be Free!
– I do hereby request hemp production and the food nutritional substances industry thereof legal world over. Amen. May It Please Be Free!
#43 Cannabis for Pain Says: – I definitely think Winder Says – is right on the money in this instance.
Would you like to claify yourself? We the people on this blog have a purpose so fuck off and stop stalling our process of redemption – others’ long long overdue redemption. Amen.
Are you in pain yourself? Are you just a wierdo voyeure? Is something like you designed to confuse the confused merciless sick and hungry fellow human beings on this earth.
If you have nothing positive to add but just your simple lack of common sense please in the Name of God Fuck Off – Leave Us Alone To Do What Is Righteous. Amen My Friends, Amen.
#43 whatever you are – You have never walked a mile in anyone elses’ shoes.
My Dear Sioux Indian Brother In Law Passed Away Last Summer….
….Cecil….would say this person …
‘has never walked two miles in my mocassions.’
I love and miss Cecil.
i had my first lumbar surgery at age 22.my second at age 35.my last one in 2005. i am now 56.was referred to pain mngt.dr. from my neurosurgeon.ended up on fentnyl.went for a follow up and he wanted a drug test.told him i lit up because it helped alot with spasms and related pain.he deferred the test till next time, and said if it was legal he would have no problem prescribing it, but if the test would come back positive, it would be considered abuse.went to my internist who couldn’t believe the pain dr. had me on fentnyl.he weened me off the deadly patch and prescribed ms contin.along with MM i have not increased my doseage.my internist says that i am doing well with not having to increase the ms contin doseage that he oringinally prescribed.i have taken urine tests during my yearly physical, and no mention of MM abuse has been brought up.
#59 – Pressure Kook – You have said it very well indeed. We thank you.
#28 Ethan Says:
July 8th, 2009 at 11:47 am
If you’re using marijuana for medicine, why would you need opioids? (Unless you were being treated for something as serious as cancer, hiv aids or wasting disease.) …..
Isn’t that one of the arguments for medical legalization, that it reduces the need for the other addictive\harmful medications?
RE:
Ethan,
Cannabis potentiates opiates. This means that if you are using cannabis, it helps the opioid/opiate do it’s job.
So, yes, when using medical marijuana and opiates, one needs fewer opiates.
Funny how that works, huh?
Eric
Point: My three tiny plants were not of the THC gnerated form.
They were purely hemp all along.
Amen.
And yes I attribute that knowledge to Manny.
(**) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
I’m a cronic pain sufferer in Texas and my Dr does drug testing. If you fail you can lose your medicade. I take Oxycodone but it alone just dosn’t do the job. With just a little cannabis I only need about half of the Oxycodone I normally would. I have only once came across any cannabis that worked well by itself, if it were legal that might be different. I know this. If I can’t get treatment for the pain I will seek euthinasia.
i will do whatever is neccassary to deal with my pain,including breaking the law!
I am a chronic pain sufferer in Ohio. During my disability hearing I was asked if I smoked marijuana. I answered them honestly. Yes, I occassionally use. I’d rather smoke a little than take the heavy narcotics which make me stupid, incoherent, lazy and fat.
I was awarded my disability in 2008. I am in a non MMJ state. I was recently refferred to a pain management clinic where I was subjected to a drug test, which I failed. My family physician had me on a morphine and klonopin cocktail.
I am recently back in school, studying law. The doctor told me it was illegal to SMOKE marijuana! I told him he was mistaken. It is illegal to cultivate, possess or sell. He kept asking where and how I got it. None of his business. The problem is that, when I originally asked my doctor to give me something less potent than the morphine, he sent me to this “so called” doctor. I told this guy I ABSOLUTELY did NOT want morphine. It is too strong for me. Before I failed the test he told me if I did not take what he felt was best for me, than he could’t help me. When the test came back positive, he told me it was illegal for him to prescribe me anything but mild muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories(the latter of which I am deathly allergic too!), but he wouldn’t do that either. He did, however, threaten me with the police and children services. (I have an autistic child to care for)My last script was filled at the beginning of June. I still have a couple of days left, because I only take it when I need it, not every day the way they told me too. And now I’m scared shitless because I will be completely cut off, and going through withdrawals.
Doctors broke my back 10 years ago during a difficult delivery. It took them 7 more years to find it. I now suffer from degenerative disk disease, failed back surgery syndrome, oh yeah the metal is the WORST in winter folks, I have developed scoliosis from these conditions plus spurring throughout the thoracic region and a herniated disk at C-4. There are more injuries to the neck and spine but I think you all feel me.
I was so glad to find this website! To know I am not alone in suffering. The MJ has taken the edge off the pain without making me stupid, incoherent or lazy. I can still properly care for my child, something I cannot do when they are legally dealing/pushing morphine, especially when you ask for a less potent drug.
They want us all dummied up so they can do what they want and we wont care!
The only way to make a change is to force it upon our “Blubberment” I mean government.
PS. Do any of you know about the WTO and the new codecs going into effect at the end of 2009?
howdy folks, to post nmber 28 ethan,I have ankylosing spondilitis and wrighters syndrom with nerve damage from a bad car wreck 27 years ago,you ask why take opioids along with pot for my pain,well for one the opioids dont releive all pain! the muscle pain twisting and pulling on my bad disc makes the pain much worse! with some folks if your messed up enough it takes different kinds of things to help one another to get releife,I’ve hurt for most of my life and without medications to keep me from hurting so bad I would be a tortured misserable soul and just could not live under that much stress,I cant have any operations to help me,so I’m forced to do the best that I can,I live in california where pot is legal if i choose but the moment they find it in my system they will take away my opioids, I can’t live without them because unlike some my nerve damage is not numbness but sharp pains that go right to the center of my brain and cause migrains for days on end,I throw up and wished I was dead just to get out of so much pain, the pot helps me sleep without pills,I have gurd and acid reflux,and a very slow digestive system,the nerves are damaged going to my intestines also which all causes my digestion to slow so bad that food will sour before I can get it through my system,every now and then I will smoke some pot speeding up my digestion so that it will not make me sick,you see I also am missing a key enzym which kills some of the bacteria that cooking want kill so over a month it builds up in me and the pot also helps speed the process up so that it pushes poisons out of my system that otherwise my body could not do on it’s on,also I am a hypoglysemic! when I smoke pot it will run my sugar a bit higher but it don’t drop me like a rock! one a docter tested me when I was 15 and said son do you feel alright to which i said why doc im just a bit light headed but it’s normal for me to feel this ways and he said well your test show your sugar leval at (19) and he said you should be passed out,I never sen anyone be so low and still be able to talk to me muchless make any sense! I was born this ways so I’m use to it, wehn I reached early 20s I started smokeing pot and my sugar levals have not bothered me for over 20 years unless ive had a few reactions to medications(sulfur drugs) that made it go yoyo until I got them out of my system,
I’ve smoked pot for about 25 years now and without it I would not even still be here,I would have ended it along tme ago with as much pain as i’ve lived with over the years,I have spinal damge from head to toe and thats not figurativly either,i’ve had spinal injections and trigger point injections that made me ick as a dog but never not one time has pot ever mae me sick! if anything it has helped me when othr drugs did make me sick,its calming nerve easing medication! a mirical drug if you will but it can only help so much and in certin ways! but in ways no other drugs can even get close to !!!when you flip a car 9 times, get ejected 176 feet, bounce off the ground,fly another 45 feet into a 4 strand bobbed wired fence takeing out 6 polls to the ground all woven up intwines in the strands and then the cars very lest flip is on top of you with the car upside down beeing mashed to death it will put pain in places you never thought could ever hurt, i thank god I’m alive each and every day,i am god fearing man and I think god put plants on this earth to feed and heal,god done one hell of a job in my book, and in that book it says not to trust (MAN) and thats where it all comes into play,the doctors get kickbacks by the drug companys! and they spend bilions of dollars for lobbyist to keep the government to do there evil bidding! WE THE PEOPLE HAVE NO SAY THESE DAYS! I only wished that I was born with enough money to fight these crooks! the fact that I can get much better releif with a combonation of drugs with pot they dont care about one way or another,I would not use nearly as much pain meds if I could smoke pot regular without worrying about them taken away what I need so I just sneak around when I can for a few days and try to purge the poisons out of me and go back to cleaning up without it so if they test me I want be out of a doctor or the nerve numbing opioids that I also cant live without,it should not be this ways for me or anyone else, the doctors oaths only go so far as to not get in th ways of there kick back moneys,if I was president I would tst all doctors and those that did not apply that oath to help people above all would be tossed out of there cans!! all Ive heard in the last few months is to take away money from doctors and hospitals when the real villan is the pharma companies thats chargeing more money than all others combined times x10…..notice how quick they ws to jump in there saying they would help with all this dealings in the white house?? what it is is they have donated 1% to make it look like there helping and keep them out of the issue when in reality there charging 90% way to dam much and dont want that part to be drug into the whole issue,there plea bargaining basicaly,and keepingthere name out of it and the president knows this,I’ll even bet that he has bought stock in there companies one way or another just like he did with the freddy mea and fany mack deals,it ruined our country but noones talking about him beeing the number two man for the amount of profit that he made from them two which was into the millions of dollars, it’s like letting the wolf guard the hen house! this is the first time to visit this site,I;m going to try my best to join and get involved in whatever ways that I can,I’m damn tired of running around hideing in acountry that I love because of some damn suit somewheres thats never worked a hard day in his life telling me how I feel and how i should feel being forced to take stuff that I know can’t work as good as pot,for with it regular I would not need the acid reflux medications,nor the sleepin pills,not any nerve pills,and I could even cut way down on my opiods although I will always need some of them! but they are costing our government a fortune just by themselves and I feal bad knowing just how much they cost when I know a small bag of pot that only costs 5% or less as much as the opioids do could help me even more and the savings on all the other medications also,over lifetime it’s enough to help many others not just one,I want to be apart of the solution not the cause,and it may put me in jail or loseing my doctor to do the right thing,thats really sad that our government just dont understnd whats right in plain sight!!! sorry for this being so long folks,I just thought I needed to get it out,not many places one an go to be themselves and speak there minds,we must organize stronger and strike while the irons hot,in california the doors been opened so lets all not let them slam it back in our faces this time,get involved in any ways that you can,I know I’m going to….smokenbull
OK, so I am sooooo glad to find this site! I have been seeing a pain doc for 3 years, they have never popped a urine test on me until last night. I live in MD, and have smoked MJ for 25 years, and work for the federal gov’t. Soo yes, I have federal healthcare. I am scared shitless – I am just hoping that HIPPA protects me cus I know I am gonna pop positive. At this point I could really care less about whether the docs are gonna see me again, because I have had sooo many problems with them – there front office is horrible and I was thinking about switching docs anyways. They have me on all sorts of medication for my chronic pain in my back because I don’t want surgery. And all of the hardware in my back – well I am a walking weather detector. So it’s not like I am lying about any of my pain, as I have a well known surgeon that would like to cut me open and redo my surgery. I am just not ready for that yet. Smoking MJ is the ONE THING that relaxes my muscles, which relaxes my back, which then makes me not be in pain. These docs are so eager to PUSH meds – its almost like they are making a profit!!!! Maryland doesn’t have the MMJ card yet, but I am hopeful. I just got back from CA, and I am jealous. What is the harm with MJ. Nothing!!!! Think about how many people it helps, and yet you smoke it and it can stay with you for 3 – 4 weeks. Yet someone can abuse other drugs, get off of it for a few days, and come up clean. Its just not fair – they need to make a different test for MJ users or not one at all!
The cowards and sociopaths of the dea would rather thousands suffer pain unnecessarily than one addict deceive a doctor. As one ex agent put it the dea has become a repository for ‘right wing nuts.’ This rogue agency should be abolished.
Those of you who worry about being cut off opiate pain meds because of medical marijuana use should investigate the possibility of growing opium poppies which is legal in most states. You can dry them and save the heads which can be made into a very effective pain relieving tea. There are instructions and recipes all over the internet. The seeds can be bought online and at many health food shops. The dried pods store well and can be saved for future use. Poppy tea is every bit as effective and Oxycontin and the strength can be adjusted to suit individual needs. Poppy tea provides effective pain relief for a very low cost and while it may be illegal it can save many pain sufferers from the vagaries of sadistic drug testing doctors.
Hi there I have been searching online for a few days now trying to find any official legislation that directly prohibits pain management doctors from prescribing narcotic pain medication to patients that are smoking marijuana. I was recently informed by a doctor that she would be unable to prescribe me any narcotic medication due to the fact that on my questionnaire I wrote truthfully that I smoke marijuana. From what I can tell by the literature that I have found there is no official law prohibiting this. It seems as though this doctor is more concerned with law enforcement then with patient care. Gee go figure. It just seems so crazy that you can tell the doctor that you drink alcohol and they will not have any problem with setting up an appropriate treatment for you but if you smoke marijuana you are unacceptable. I tell you what if I were a doctor I would rather my patients be smoking marijuana and typically reducing the opiate consumption then taking these opiates and drinking alcohol along with them and potentially dying due to countless risks that associate with that scenario. So if anyone could be of assistance and not just say yes or no regarding any official legislation directly prohibiting narcotic treatment but please point me in the direction of a web site or phone number if possible. Thank you so much
I have inoperable brain cancer.I am dying. After 1 year with a pain center I tested positive. I didn’t think they would test but they surprised me. Now they are cutting me off. I am dying, how can they do that. It’s like they are asking me to off myself. I need to vape the MJ to keep the meds down. The nausea and vomiting are part of life, and yes, I take 3 meds for that. Talk about putting me into a downward spiral. I don’t have the energy to fight this or find another doctor. The smoke I can find, what do I do about the pain meds.? I take oxycodone and methodone tabs, how can I find and afford those at street value? I will be non-functional when these scripts run out. Will my children have any legal recourse when I am gone? I absolutely feel like I am being pushed out of this world months sooner than I should be leaving. I feel like “they” have figured out a way to save a few health care dollars. Wow. No way out leaves me with only one way out. It’s not a threat, don’t feel like you have to track me down and save me, it’s not like that, I have enough meds to make through the first of the year, that’s how long I have to figure this out, but WTF, this isn’t how I should be spending the end time. The first thing I read about brain cancer was that the type I had wasn’t painful, that was the first lie the doctors told me, no two say the same thing, offer the same treatment…I just want pain relief to spend the time I have with my young children, and even this seems more than anyone can offer me.
Does anyone know any way I can get the pain relief I need. I am in the state of Massachusetts. Travel is almost impossible but will do what it takes to spend a few more days with my 2 boys. Curled up in the fetal position in too much pain to cry is not time with my children. Can I get scripts from Canada? Can I send my paperwork somewhere like that and get them to send me these types of meds? I don’t know what to do.
Thank you for giving me a place to say it, for being the one person to hear my plight(I hope), even if nothing becomes of it, because if nothing else, saying it once helps give me a sense a peace, a sense of hope for others in the future.
Thank you,
Sandy P.
From everything that I have read, the MMJ laws, even though some states have passed MMJ, each state uses their own discretion. And pain docs are the worst! I had it out with my physician – told her I felt like she was the one that had me hooked on pain meds, when all I needed to leave the spasms was MMJ. With that, she refused to treat me! Even though I live in a state (MD) where MMJ is legal – BUT YOU CANNOT GET A SCRIPT FOR IT! WTF! No doctor in the state of MD is willing to do that, so why even make it legal? I have started an exercise program now – 3 days a week – to help with getting the mobility back in my leg and my back. Been off my meds now for 2 weeks, and wow I can actually think straight now. Still smokin though! It helps at night – but I have realized that I don’t need as much now that I am off the meds – cus one of the reasons I was smoking so much was because of the side effects of the meds. What wicked web that is. Pain docs are in it for the money not to help people. I am a firm believer of that now that the “doc” and I had our words. I was to come back, and get put back on the meds but be tested everytime I went – and to my expense! No thanks!!! They are making a profit off of every pill you swallow!!!!
OK – now I am pretty upset. My doctor actually had the nerve to send me a letter (certified) threatening me about my MMJ use! She stated that I need addiction help, and if I do not respond to her that she will notify my Primary Care Physician and my work!!! She is not allowed to do this per HIPPA – I need a lawyer FAST! Anyone for some suggestions???
I am currently in pain mgm. for cronic back pain,I am currently on embedda 80 mg and oxycodone 15mg.I take them each 2x a day.My doc has insisted on me getting tested for drugs today,I am horrified to go take the test cause I smoke pot once a day if not more.I know if I fail this test it will be the last time I get any pain meds for my back.and it will also put me in jepordy for my social security claim.It may also give workmans comp the chance to drop my claim so they do not have to pay for doctor visits anymore.I am at wits end with this,and do not know what to do 🙁
That’s really horrible what people are going through because of this. If the clinics would chill out about smoking pot for medical reasons, a lot of people would not be stressing out as much. I’m sure that the stress is adding to the pain! People that have the legal medical ability to smoke pot have to worry as well, just because the clinics are against smoking. If they are legally allowed to smoke, they should be able to show the proof that they can smoke and get help, tested, and get their drugs refilled without any worries. But no, people are losing the ability to get their medication because even though they are allowed to smoke, the clinics will hear no word of it. The clinics are basically saying that they don’t care if you’re legally allowed to smoke or not. If they are against it, their way goes and you’re screwed and you don’t get your refill, you have to go live with the pain and they won’t lose any sleep over it because in their heads, pot is bad legal or not. It’s just not right, and I feel so sorry for the ones who are losing their prescriptions because of the thick-headed clinics.
How does Corey Haim* have hundreds of pain killers around and I am dying of cancer and I can’t get enough pain meds to last the month and I am threatened to lose even lose those because when I can afford it I smoke a little for appetite, as an anti-nausea and to help me sleep.
It makes me angry that someone who wants to die can get pain killers and someone who doesn’t want to die can’t. I just want to enjoy my children but that’s hard when even their voices hurt…
Dying shouldn’t be this hard for those that value life.
*I wish no one that end. The point is I want to know how he got them so I can too! F#ck, I DON’T have a death wish!
I really don’t understand after going to my pain clinic for 4 years, and many 5+ spinal surgeries? They want to test me for thc on the next vist. They wanted to test me the previous vist, but I was honest, and told them I had smoked a little marijuana. They had a darn fit! Now I’m trying to get myself clean of thc before July 3rd in order to pass a test. I’m not obese, and have little body fat. I’m 5’5″, and weigh about 125 lbs. What are my chances of passing?
I have a medtronics electrical simulator inserted in my abdomen with 3 wires running to my spine. I’m on 25mg fental patch every 48 hours, oxycodone 10/325mg every 6 hours, and Ambian 12.5 mg prn sleep, and I get 20 per month of those which are usless since I rarely sleep. I also have blood in my urine according to my last Primary care visit. Will that affect my test?
Please, help me as I’m terrified. Believe me when I say I really hate taking the narcotics that’s why I had the medtronics inserted to get off all narcotics. They do help, but the MJ helps me more than anything, because of the side effects of the drugs cause much nausea, and the nausea medicine they’ve given me causes many unpleasant side effects causing my pain level to increase. I’m a 61 y/o woman who thought I would never smoke MJ, but it has helped me more than anything else I’ve taken. When I would smoke a little? I had to take less of the oral pain med, and I would sleep an hour, or two more than when taking the Ambian.
I don’t really like the staff at the clinic, but I do like the Doctor. Also, since I’m not smoking anything it’s been 4 days. I’m so miserable, because of having to take more of the oxycodone which makes me nauseous.
I’m just about ready to give up all Doctors, and just use the MJ, and forget the pain meds, but that scares me in wondering if that will work. Any suggestions would help, and I believe it’s criminal in the way they treat occassonal users of Mj for medicinal proposes. Why can’t they just test for the narcotics they give you? Also if they’re so worried about the abuse why not have them have the patients bring their meds in to be counted if they’re concerned about abuse, or some selling them? I would have no problem with that at all!
BTW, Sandy are you still with us? If so? I pray you have been getting relief from your pain, and God bless you, and know I feel certain there’s a place we will go, and pain will never be a problem again. I hope to meet you there some day.
I apologize to Mr. Haim, his legacy, his family and friends and admirers. He died of pneumonia. I do not wish do be the one to spread falsehoods or lies about anyone. He did NOT overdose or die of mixing drugs. I am sorry if I was part of perpetuating any myth or untruth.
I have, for the moment, found a doctor to treat me. I have been Rx’d, and denied, the phentenal (sic) patch. I am appealing. The first appeal was denied. There is no growth of the tumor at this time, but no further treatment available, the only left is pain management-lol.
As for seeing you on the other side friend- you do what you need to do to get through it all, and I’ll do the same. I find my joy in the here and now, my love in the hearts of those that surround me, and my eternity in those who will never forget me. Peace and joy- Now and forever.
I have had back surgery 3 times.At one time I was taking 120 pain pills each month as well as 2 types of nerve meds to control pain and sleep,marijuana eliminated all of these meds but I have to quit because my company has drug testing.No one can really believe I am better off taking all those pills.How can our government do this.
Sandy, I too wish to remain here with loved ones as long as possible, becuase like you I love life. I really don’t believe I could exist at all if I didn’t believe there was something better than this life to look forward too. I lost a precious Son, and I remain faithful that I may see him again. If you don’t believe that? That is certainly your right, however I thought you could have been somewhat kinder in your reponse. I hope you are doing well, and I will respect your request not to believe in seeing each other after this life is through. I respect your beliefs, and I would hope you would do the same with mine. I really do hope, and pray to see my loved ones again, (don’t worry I won’t include you again in any request to meet you in any afterlife, and feel certain that this is not all there is to life. God Bless You.
Franny, I am sorry if you did not like how I feel or that you think I intended to be unkind. I was not trying to be unkind to anyone- simply stated how I felt. I never crossed my mind that it would taken as unkind to someone else. It was a response, not an assault on anyones beliefs in any way. I am sorry if you felt it was directed against anyone or their faith- I was just describing how I find peace- much like you stating that you believe you will be reunited with those you love gives you peace.
I would never deny anyone anything that brings them hope.
I truly apologize if you felt I was attacking you or your faith.
We share in the fact we have physical pain that is not addressed, I hope we can continue to share our sorrows/frustration/sense of isolation in that. I absolutely respect your beliefs and feelings and I am sorry if what I said came across that way.
Pain is the issue. In most of the examples it was the drugs they took away not the patient, to jail.
We study organic sulfur which has replaced a morphine pump and all of the oral and addicting opiates. Methadone from 130 mg to O in 8 weeks.
The definition of pain in biology is the lack of intracellular oxygen, sulfur transports oxygen.
So if you would like to see dispensers in your area so the jail thing does not ruin any more lives, consider
the pain.
If medical pot is a good thing? Then something that addresses the cellular pain and repairs the cause for the pain could be part of the program. Our study hates hearing about pain and love hearing when even pot is not necessary for “what pain.”
I’m 64 and know the needle and damage done, any needle.
Our ISP “sisna” could mean “sulfur is superior to narcotic addiction.”
the Director
Cellular Matrix Study
Body Human Project.
Sandy, I also apologize if I came off sounding high, and mighty. I have the greatest respect for others opinions especially when it comes to their faith, and beliefs. We all must choose what works best for us, and no body in my opinion has all the right answers.
Best to you, and no need to apologize, as I was being too sensitive. Thank You, and have a great day!
Sandy, How are you doing? I hope you’re having less pain. I finally got off the patches on my own, and I’m so angry at my pain clinic. I did several different urine tests for thc, and passed everyone of them, and yet they claim at the clinic that I still had thc in my system? How can that be? I believe they are doing this dilibertly, because, I’ve been insistent on getting off the narcotics! It certainly hasn’t been their plan! Too bad, I will refuse any further testing, and I’ve already talked with my Primary Care Doctor, and he’s willing to help me if I need a few percocets for prn pain if the pain management clinc refuses me the pills. I plan to ask for half of the original perscription on my next visit for my percocets. I went through torment in getting this Medtronics unit, and It has always been my plan to be off of all narcotics in the future. Even though I’ve been told I would never be pain free? One can always hope.
Mr. Collins, I feel your pain, and I also cannot believe the cruelty of the FDA, and especially pain management Physicians! They of all people should know better! After all? that’s their expertise, and yet they are slaves to Big Pharma as well!
This story is all too familiar. I WAS a pain clinic patient on 180 mg. a day morphine for the last four years. When my doctor informed me that he could not prescribe my morphine if I continued to use my medically prescribed cannabis. I chose cannabis.. I have been off my pills for three months today and haven’t felt better in years! Not to mention the mental fog has cleared and I’m ready to stand up and join the fight!
Re: Catrina
I have to agree, at the worst I was taking 24 pills a day, just adding a med for everything. It turns out my pain clinic doc had me on a med a almost 6x the normal dose- the doctor, who had done this, the “mistake’, immediately assumed I was doing drugs. After more than a year at the pain clinic I tested at barely detectable levels, with no tests occurring until I started to complain of strange and multiple issues-every single symptom was on the ‘toxic reaction’ list for the med. The doctor would not listen when I said something was really wrong. I lost balance, had double vision, etc. The doctor told me I must be on something else if I tested positive for one other thing, he also repeatedly changed my Rx’s, both in dosage and length of time (# of days it should last) without mentioning it to me. I was so confused when I ran out of pain meds, and when I called saying I did not understand how didn’t have enough, was accused of ‘drug seeking’, it was not until I talked to the pharmacy that it was pointed out that the majority of my meds had been reduced to 3 weeks, when my insurance wanted it all in 30 day rx’s. When I asked why the doctor did not tell me, he said it was my job to know…after being on the same pain meds, that had only been upped in the preceding 12 months. It is now 6 months later and I can no longer drive, it appears the vision problems are perm from the toxicity at being at almost 6x the correct dose for 6-7 months. (BTW-there was no records of anyone every being on that high of dose for so long. We do not know what permanent effects will endure. “Luckily” my blood pressure is slowing going up, but much damage is permanent. I am so saddened that that doctor robbed me of months of life that has an expiration date. He was so sure it was me that never once did it occur to him that he had erred.
Before this was discovered, I weaned of everything but the Toprimate (headache med) and had cut back on the pain meds. When it was left just to that I was weaned off the med, it was painful and debilitating, the long term effects are not as painful as the short term, but losing the ability to drive with two young kids bite.
The point of this post is these doctors claim ‘this’ (sites) issues are about the fear of the DEA. Guess what, by law they DO NOT HAVE TO TEST FOR THC UNLESS THEY BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM. THEY ONLY HAVE THE RIGHT TO TEST YOU FOR THE RESTRICTED MEDS YOU ARE ON. You can ask that you are only tested for the meds you are on- which may result in the doctor being suspicious- but a doctor who is so closed minded is not the one you want. The test for the pain killers is NOT the same test as the illegal screen- the doctor MUST order it…
THC was made illegal by a man named Asselin, who only wanted more money for his Federal department, made up this whole “pot makes you crazy’ crap- no medical studies, no real doctor testimony. If your doctor backs this, then he is closed minded and ignorant. THC does help with nausea, sleep, and appitite, but I can no longer afford it (so my insurance paid for so many Rx’s but wont buy me a cheaper alternative- which surprises me the most. Ins. Co’s want to make money, I would think they would support this.
Whatever, this wont be fixed in my lifetime, I am more sorry for the rest of you who half to endure for lengthy, perhaps lifetimes, of pain.
The reason why I read this was to see about the consequences of failing a drug test that is positive for THC which was sprung on someone after 7 years of going to a primary MD who was prescribing oxycotin, roxicodone, xanax and klonipin, and gave a suprise test for the first time and cut off the patient cold turkey without a follow up nor a referral, only one month prescription and was unsuccessful in getting another pain doctor prescrible same meds, three pain doctors, just would not give meds at all-blacklisted basically, labeled a “chronic drug abuser”, when that was the very first and only drug test ever even given. So, the patient lived had it not been for help from other users, and suffered severe physical and mental consequences which are still unresolved after one year-still not acquired anything but darvocet and still trying-paying out of own pocket and living on disabilty income for 8 years with two surgeries on spine, prolapsed uterus and total hysterectomy at 23 years old and severe bone disorder which is very painful and often misdiagnosed. Dont have any voice when you are poor and a piece of paper, such as the new agreement you are to sign if you want meds, that you break when you test positive regardless of the outcome and known lethal consequences of opiate withdrawels alone, xanax is just as bad. This system is placing a conract more important than one;’s life-this is my life!!!
HELP! I just went to the pain specialist in Austin Texas who told me he could not prescribe me any medications if I tested positive for marijuana. He said it was a new law that began in September 2010. I have herniated disks in back and neck, excruciating pain. marijuana helps me with anxiety, but not the pain.
What to do?
[Editor’s note: Seek a different doctor or move to one of the 14 states with medical cannabis laws (next door neighbor New Mexico for example).]
Re: Darby
Personally I worked out a plan to taper off my pain meds. and did so over a five month time span, cutting the dose in half each month. But do not do this by splitting any extended release tablets!
I also got a referral to a physical therapist and a pain therapist who both taught me a lot of techniques to manage my pain myself.
One piece of information my pain therapist shared with me is that our bodies can produce 60x more opiates than any pill on the market.
I was on Methadone for about 5 years and dealing with a severe spinal cord injury/chronic pain. Lost private insurance in the spring.Had to take Medicare tested tree times positive for marijuana. The pain management NP said she can no longer write me scripts and never even offered an alturnitive. Methadone is synthic herion if you didn’t know. I’m dealing with tremendous pain and withdrawls and The Albany Center for Pain Management of Albany NY won’t even return my calls or offer any help at all. Our medical system is corrupt. These are the ones that are there to help us and throw us to the street. I always tested positive for the exact script of methadone. I could no longer afford the Zanaflex and acidflex for the side effect of the flexerall. I told my NP at my pain management she said do what ever it takes to control your pain. I now know she was setting me up because I was no longer making them big buck with risky proceedures. I only seen them for scripts. I was told I’m at a medical maximum and medical technology will not catch up with my injury in my lifetime.
I have been on narcotics for 15 yrs now. 90mg morphine sulfate contin, and 40-60mg hydrocodone daily. This is down from what it was. I have been hurt badly enough to get social security. I am a full time college student because I do not want to quit working, I’m only 57 yrs old. I want to try medical marijuana for pain. I smoked it back in the 70’s but quit when my son was born. I am asking for free seeds, I don’t have money to buy them, they are high as hell. Please, if you can, send me some seeds, it will come back to you. I am afraid to go out in the street. Thank You, Paul Nash.
hi,i was in a bad car accident 10 yrs. ago.so i got on methadone to control the pain then wanted off methadone so i got on suboxone to wean off of methadone.found out after got off suboxone that i was red flagged to receive pain meds.i thought i could deal with my back pain if i was not on methadone or suboxone but couldn’t.please someone help me with any info on how i can get back into pain management.
Since it became legal the combination of medical marijuana for chronic pain in conjunction with opioid medication for acute nerve pain reception has proved highly successful in restoring limited, to fully functional physical movement. A couple of years ago The doctor started issuing a one or the other option in the state of Washington. Because your supposed to work with your doctor for optimum results The advise of the physician was taken. Very soon the required dosage for opiates increased substantially to alleviate the acute pain and residual limiting regional nerve pain, which was severe to the point of dysfunctional ability. Should it be legal for a physician to not prescribe opioid medication, (Hydrocodone, Oxycodone), just because an MD at a medically licensed clinic has prescribed medical cannabis? M.D. licenses are granted by the State therefore shouldn’t state law take precedence when a doctor prescribes opioid medications but is only aware, not actually prescribing medical cannabis. Since The prescribing Physician is not prescribing the cannabis, they are not violating Federal law. At the same time The other doctor at a clinic is not violating State law. If this is the case, shouldn’t not administering opioid therapy just because another physician has prescribed medical cannabis legally be illegal. Would this also be a conflict of the oath to try and ease suffering in patients due to medical conditions.
John Purple
I was unexpectedly tested by my doctor six monthes ago and was referred to a “pain clinic.” I doubt I will be accepted into their program as I have always been treated as a “prescription shopper” and now as a “junkie” all because I use a natural medicine to help with my muscle spasms and nausea and it is not legal in my state. How unfair can life be?
MY SON WAS INJURED IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT AT 15 ALMOST 16 YRS.OLD. HE WAS PUT ON DILANTIN FOR SEIZURES. THEY WERE GOING HAVE HIS LEG AMPUTATED DUE TO GANGERINE,,HIS PATELLA WAS LOST IN A MASS OF MUSCLES.HE HAD A BROKEN JAW.ORALSURGEON AND NEUROLOGIST,THE ORAL SURGEON ORDERED HIM TO HAVE HIS JAW FOR 30 DAYS. HE WAS IN A COMA FOR A FEW MONTHS.HE HAS SPINAL CORD INJURY,AND HERNIATED DISCS CAUSING HIM NUMBNESS IN HANDS AND FEET. HE IS NOW 40 YRS OLD. HE HAS BEEN TOLD BY DOCTORS TO TAKE XANAX,DILAUDID,AND OPIATES. HE HAS NO APPETITE,IS CONSTIPATED FROM MEDS AND VOMITING ALSO.HE HAD BEEN USING CANNIBIS FOR PAIN AND APPETITE SINCE HIS ACCIDENT TELL ME WHEN WILL FLORIDA REALIZE THESE PAIN CLINICS ARE WRONG PRESCRIBING MEDICATION .THEY SHOULD LEGALIZE CANIBIS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK FOR MY SON.WHEN I LEAVE THIS WORLD,I ALREADY HAD STAGE 4 COLON CANCER,ITS A MIRACLE I SURVIVED.I WON’T BE HERE FOREVER TO DEFEND HIS RIGHT”S FROM “PAIN AND ETERNAL SUFFERING” “MOM FROM MIAMI” CRYING FOR HELP FOR MY SON”S SURRIVAL IN THIS FIGHT AGAINEST PAIN. ALSO HIS RIGHT LIEG IS 2 INCHES SHORTER THAN LEFT LEG. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS BATTLE IN FLORIDA.
I say it’s time to fight back and just shut these PM clinics down by NOT USING THEM! If no one goes because of the bullshit they put you through then they will have no patients and therefore no business and they will have no choice but to shut down! I know I know, easier said than done…BUT…it can be done! There are always more than one way to skin a cat! Do what you have to do to get through the day without giving in to these bastards…it’s the only way people! I’ve decided that if I have to I will suffer a little but by golly I’m NOT giving in to these bastards…that includes the government and the doctors who bend down and kiss the governments ass and agree to it (it (contracts))! I’ll do what I have to to get through the day one way or the other and they can all kiss my lily white ass! Suck it up people and grow a pair and FIGHT back or this is only going to get worse! It’s time for a revolt, don’t just sit by and do nothing…if we don’t do something we will lose all our freedoms and I for one will not stand by and let that happen…I will fight back!
I am so glad someone told me about this page.I am 53,i have seizures due to my x husband shooting me in the head,i have had both breast removed becuase of cancer,i also have melanoma cancers that come up on me all the time,i have had 2 back surgerys.I called today to get my pain meds refilled.And was told that i had tested post. for MJ 2 times,one more time and they will not give me my meds anymore.I told them i only smoke it to not puke,and to help with the pain,i have been on Oxicodone 5mg,and morphine 100mg,valum,and soma for about 10 years.Now they tell me this.Id rahter just do the MJ.They tell me that the reason they test me is to make sure i am taking my meds and not selling them.They have had me on stronger,but i asked to be taken of.What can you do.Im afraid they will turn me in to SS,and then i will lose that.I cant stand the pain and i sleep maybe 3 hours a night without the MJ.With it i may sleep 5 hours.But it feels so good.I am not taking it for the buzz as they say.But it is not as bad on you as some of the meds they have me on now.So i sit here now out of my pain meds because i know how i will test,and they told me i would have to.I am in a wheel chair,and right now i am in the bed and cant even move without sever pain.An i have never tried any harder drugs as they say you will go to when you cant get that feeling from the MJ anymore.It just feels good to be able to come here and talk about it.thank you for listening,and God Bless you All.
So they cut me off my meds,just like that.Now how do i get through the withdrawls?Not fair for them just to cut them out like that,maybe wing you of but this is a way to kill someone.And should be medical mal pratice.
same sad story ;1985 herniated low back now 2012 3 x back surguries require narcotic meds for 27 years and still do 53 years old 2012 new law emergency passed pain mng. laws because of abusive nationwide narcotic useage nothing to do with me. yet i test positve for marijuana. imediatly i cant get my pain releif i despratly need. my back never changed the past 27 years never chang for the good just worse.i,ve smoked since adge 13. go figure …WHAT CAN BE DONE? LOONEY TOON thanks for hearing so many screwed over pain patients i,ve been cut open 3x and medical society gets away with this stuff
Looking for current law in FL regarding liability. Chronic pain patient for 12yrs MJ w/small amount of opiates and xanax for chronic anxiety works. As of 2011 new doc [8months] threating to discharge if I test pos for thc and said “one or the other” well I am about at the “other” point but still need anxiety medication even if I try to go off all opiates. Doc is actually pro pot but afraid. Cannot find current law on doc liability for this issue. He is open to being presented with research. All my searches continue to bring me to this page or others linked to it. Thanks.
I have been on pain meds for 8 years in addition to medical marijuana. Recently the doctor asked me for a drug test, which I gladly took as she already knew I smoked. She then calls me and says I have to choose one or the other.
How is this fair? My pain has only gotten worse over the years. I plan on going to the ER tonight if the pain does not go away.
My Husband is having a terrible time finding a doctor since ours lost his license for engaging in illegal prescription selling. Tell me that’s not a crock. Is there anyone by chance who could help me find a doctor in the Northern Michigan area, I really don’t even care as long as I can get there in a day, he just really needs a doctor. Thank you!
ABMC has developed a Drug of Abuse Screen without THC. This was developed according to the wishes of our Clinician base.
The prescription drug abusers and the legislative reaction has made it more difficult for those who suffer with chronic pain and require prescribed pain medication and/or cannabis to improve their quality of life. It is outrageous that those in real need face denial of effective pain meds because of rampant prescription drug abuse.
Don’t see Pain Management doctors. The DEA and the drug abusers have destroyed their efficacy and they add the to the rising costs of health insurance. Ask to work with your PCP on a pain management strategy/program. Make sure that you have a long term relationship with your PCP. If your PCP insists that you see a Pain Specialist, find a new PCP.
I suffer from a major C7 neck herniation. I have occasional severe pain, anxiety and numbness/weakness down my left arm. These are classic symptoms and my MRI doesn’t lie. Nor do my neurological tests. I don’t take any illicit drugs and despise taking Vicodin. But it is, on occasion, a necessary evil. I used to smoke cannabis for anxiety, appetite and pain, but quit cold turkey, after 35 years. I had no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever and don’t miss using cannabis, as it became ineffective for me. Plus, I didn’t like the social stigma that comes with its use.
When my neck condition progressed and worsened, I was forced to see a Pain Management Doctor for 3 useless steroidal cervical injections and was prescribed Neurontin and Tramadol. Both drugs worked poorly. The Tramadol would put me to sleep and cause severe constipation. I was forced to provide a urine sample for opiad screening, which was a total waste of money. If the god damned Pain Doctor had simply contacted my PCP of 17 years and asked him if he suspected drug abuse, the test would have been unnecessary, as my PCP knows me quite well. When I need Vicodin, I rely upon my PCP for the prescription and he trusts that I am not an abuser. This is critical for my proper pain management care. I often take only half a tablet or use a low 8mg dose of codeine/aspirin. Lidocaine pain patches also provide minor relief when the pain is mild to moderate. It really pisses me off that I had to endure working with a Pain doctor, who’s office is extraordinarily busy and rude. They don’t call you back. Worse, my pain doctor was three hours late for each of my epidurals and the person who was willing to drive me to and from the clinic had to wait, as well. There was never an apology from the doctor. I discovered the alternative pain management options from friends/colleagues who also suffer from pain issues and discuss these options with my PCP only!
I am now dealing with Anthem Blue Cross, who have rejected my Spine Surgeons request to perform an artificial disk replacement. The insurer claims that this procedure is investigational/experimental.
America has the best healthcare in the world. Bull sh.t.
Just more proof that a Doctors think they are god. What Drs in the VA don’t realize is they work for the Vet not the federal gov’t., the gov’t signs the checks. Why do new PCPs think that the first thing to do is change the meds you have been stablized on for years? I have seen more than one vet go to what we call the “Flight Deck”> Mental health floor because a Dr thought he knew more than the last one you have seen for a decade. Most of Drs have never had a hang nail let alone a severe injury such as being shot, stabbed, blown up, or dropped on a tree after falling 1300 feet. Really, has anyone seen a truly busted up DR?
The best care I have ever recieved was from a Dr with his arm in a sling. He had a broken clavical, one of the many things I am being treatd for. I said “It hurts doesn’t it?”. His reply “Damn right it does.”I was given pain meds T3s (hard stuff. jk)But there was no argument.
I have never seen my new PCP, not once. His nurse stated “Dr Sarkissian said you have seen him.” I don’t know who the “him”, but proper pronoun followed my a pronoun in the same sentence refers to the proper pronoun. I called him a liar. What can he do shoot me again? No he stops my meds. I was asking for Ritialn that my old PCP, that I saw for 15 years, prescribed for me months ago. This new hack never informed me I was not getting the medication until I called the VA. asking them where it was.I went through a mild withdrawl because of this.
I had to make an appt for mental health to get the medication. More waiting. This new PCP has not filled one request for meds without a battle. Some of these I have taken for over 15 years. He is not a Pain management Dr. yet he is enforcing a pain clinic contract that was void 10 years ago. By the way he was a prison Dr in California. After that worked in a strip mall there. He has practiced 13 years and was a ‘walk in’ to medical school in some Eastern Eurpean country. I believe this taints his veiw of his patients. If he don’t like being called a liar then he should have called and not his nurse that couuld barely speak coherent English. Maybe his English even worse.
I was in a pain clinic and I was released to my old PCP and he was tasked to handle my Pain Management and there was never a problem as long as I had my blood test. Not once have I asked for an increase due to the stigma of asking for more pain meds in the VA system.
In the VA system you have to call monthly for any pain meds. The new PCP had his new nurse call and started pushing for a CBC chem 7 and UA. I have gotten these evey 6months for 15 years. But she was really pushing for this. I was also supposed to get testtossterone levels along with seizure med levels. The only thing this Dr focused on was the THC levels in my urine. Not one word about the rest of the test. My pain meds were due the day of the test. He didn’t refill them because he decided to be a medication policeman for the gov’t..
They made an attepmt to contact 7 days later well after my script, MORPHINE, had ran out. They had to look at my information to call me yet they missed that I was within 15 feet of his office. If my wife didn’t call I would have had to drive home then back to the clinic. 240 mile round trip costing tax payers 180 dollars for my trouble. When I talked to the nurse she was surprised I was there. REALLY? I was informed that “there was marijuana in my system.”. I am 10 days past runnning out and my spares are gone. I am going through withdrawl as I am writting this.
In the VA system you have to call to order pain meds monthly 2 weeks in advance. I waited for the meds and they never came, there was no phone call. I called again and the clerk told me they had no record of my call, not unusual for the VA system. The clerk happily took the request and I waited. Still no meds. because of the medication policing Dr.Sarkissian. The VA has said repeatedly that their Drs should not stop pain meds if marijuana is legal in the state you are in. It is in both NV and AZ. where I live.
I called the patient rep Friday and never recieved a call back. I will call Monday to find out if there is a resolution. There won’t be. I will then call the hospital administrator after that, let the fun begin. I’ve delt with this system for 30 years. I know where to drill for the nerve .
A Dr has no right to change a thing if he has never seen you. He has never given you a treatment plan. He has not done one thing except make you miserable. If a Dr can’t take the time to find out you are in the same clinic then how can he be trusted to treat you? Answer: He can’t. It is hard to find a competent Dr in the VA. Most go there at the end of their career, or the begining to pay off their student loan. Sometimes you get a good one. Most of the time you get a Dr Sarkissian and the patient will be tortured until he can get away from him or her.
To all vets you may not be able to sue or file a tort, but you can make a complaint to the state medical board for the lack of treatment. That will be my third call. I’m retired becasue of what happened to me while in service of this country. I have nothing but time. I will find that nerve, bet on it.
Having dealt with the VA – system and Medicaid – Medicaid is better. As far as the VA allowing you to smoke, depends on the doc. and there are NOT many that will approve it. In short, the VA sucks.
Enough. What do we have available to clean-out the THC? Sonne #7 at fred myers health food section. It is a clay base liquid, toxins attach to it and is then pissed out. Used by IRON WORKERS in the union for their UA. Start 2 weeks before the test. Lighten up on the smoking the last week. Also I’ve heard the enzymes in an organic lemon works for light weight mj smokers. Plus the “head shoppes” have formulas to clean out THC. At a price. The timing is the hard thing. There should a test to check your system of thc. Do before going in, to guarantee it. Some of the clean outs strip your body. So take a chewable vit c tablet 1-2 hours before the test to give your urine some color. If urine is too clean I imagine that will be a red flag. Don’t tell the doctor anything. It gets written down for the next doctor to read. Avoid getting angry or upset, he’ll note it. I e-mailed my new doctor and told him I need a doctor not a cop. Didn’t do any good. Your doctor is no longer your friend, he is looking after himself only. I haven’t done the ua yet. I did find out that oxycodone goes for $1.00 a gram. that’s $5.00 for one 5gram pill. We can’t afford that either. I love my pot, what it does for me, but it won’t cover my stenosis back pain. Do I bluff and possibly loose my oxy or try to quit something I need. I’ll ask my doctor, because he knows I smoke mj, for lorazapan/tranquilizer to help me adjust to the change. I’ll take melatonin to help me sleep because without pot it will be difficult. I don’t like sleeping pills, its side effects are bad. Get the doctor to work with me over this. Then he’ll trust me more. Then ask him for just 2 tests a year because of the money, One test with all the illegal drugs. The next one only mj the cost will be less. Those tests are standard not necessary to check for herion, etc. on me again. I absolutely hate this just like you. I did read that patients are ending up in emergency rooms getting injected with opiates to calm down their pain. This is expensive too. We can’t get maintenance drugs but if we hurt ourselves bad like a broken wrist, we will be granted pain meds. Is this an option? For you or someone. We need more resources/answers/plans/bluffs.
Help I need to find a pain dr in south east michigan , That doesnt discriminate against marijuana …anyone?????
I am addicted to Opids an it is worse then being a Herion addic . You can not be weened off Opids it dosen’t work that way . The withdrawls you wish you were dead . I take 15mg. Oxycodone 4 times a day an Fenyal Duragisic Patches 50mg. every 48 hrs. There is know way I can just quit . Pot is not addictive if you go on face book to Medical Janes web site and see what pot can help . I hate takeing pills 3-4 times aday an get amund to the Opids !! Whats the next pill after Oxycodone ?? I hurt so bad at times I stay in bed all day they say they can’t take your pain away just keep you comfortable B.S. they don’t feel what I an how I feel . Pain Managment Drs. are full of shit every 3 months I give a U.A. Last time I was there she didn’t go over my MRI with me to busy I guess . I would give my things away if I could move where they do use it for medical use . An yes I worked hard all my life to have what I got . If I ever go threw the withdrawls again I will Kill myself cause I can’t handle it .
Blaming the doctors when they are losing their afraid because the DA is after their ass. If you want to blame someone, blame the abuser. The ones that ask you for a pill or to sell you a pill or the ones on the street trying to sell pills. The laws are worse because of them. Doctors won’t touch pain pills anymore and will send you to pain clinics. They won’t touch you if you smoke pot because then they will be shut down. Laws need to change, doctors do need to take reponsiblity for helping their patients but these pill abusers are the reasons that those of us in constant pain are still in constant pain.
I was just given a Rosery Hall Referral for thc in my mouth swab, and percs in my urine,funny how the urine was not mine but still showed up!!
I have been going here for like 7 years and this happens, not good, not good at all/!!!
I have been under a doctors care for degenerating disks,and now rheumatoid arthritis,and I very recently found I have 2 vertebra out of alignment.When my back flairs up, I cannot even stand upright,I look like a capitol L. I tested positive for marijuana in July after telling the doctor I smoked some. It helps with the pain, helps me relax to sleep,helps with my appitite.I am a widow who is totally alone and I have everything I have to do at my home including things my (late)husband would have done, like chopping firewood,yardwork,etc. If I don’t do it,there isn’t anyone as I am totally alone.My doctor said he didn’t see any reason to cut my pain meds off due to smoking,so I took his drug test.After seeing I was in excrutiating pain,he cut my percocets in half,and kept to ms contin the same amount.Then he tells me to see a Pain Management clinic.I am on disability and medicaid.None of the PM clinics in my area are taking any new medicaid patients unless they are under 21.So now my doctor doesn’t feel I need to have him manage my pain and wants a PM clinic to do it,even though he knows none in the area are taking new adult medicaid patients. I am almost out of my meds, with no where to turn.How can I get through to this doctor I need my pain meds and marijuana helps me? I was also told by my doctor he thinks they need to legalize it here in South Carolina. What am I to do without anything for my severe pain? I am being branded a junkie and a criminal because I use what Our Heavenly Father gave to us.In Genesis it says Our Father gave us grasses and seed bearing herbs,and marijuana is one of those seed bearing herbs.Why is something given to us to use with Our Fathers Blessing illegal? How DARE man become so arrogant as to brand we smokers junkies and criminals?! I don’t know what I’m going to do. PM clinics are crooks. One of our Constitutional Rights is to protect us from Illegal Search and Seizure,and drug testing is an illegal search,another is the Right to Privacy, and yet another is to Be secure in our own person. Yet, those of us who are smokers have each of these Rights taken away every time we are forced to submit to one of these drug tests.I am not a criminal. If I were to go to prison,I would literally be dead within 12 hours.I don’t think like a criminal,nor am I a mean person. I actually have to think a bit before I can even come back at someone who is mean to me. Yet, I am being labeled a criminal and made to feel ashamed because I smoke. My (late) Husband who was 45 passed from lung cancer he got from laying brick.Even the meds made for nausea from chemo didn’t help him. A little marijuana helped with the nausea,helped him sleep,and helped with his appitite. Me, I am being treated for breast cancer also and the drug,tamoxifen makes me sick, flares my RA up, and I was encouraged by the Cancer Society,and several support groups for breast cancer to smoke a little. Yet, I am a criminal. I am right up there with a killer, a crack head,a rapist,etc,because I smoke marijuana. How about that! The USA is the only country in the world that allows their citizens to walk around in pain. I read there is a Federal Law the REQUIRES a doctor to treat his patient and to elieviate their patients pain as much as possible,yet no one says a word when we marijuana smokers are cut off the pain meds we need to help us. Why? When will the rest of the country see the states that have legalized it aren’t blowing up, their citizens aren’t turning into drug crazed maniacs,they aren’t looking for heavier drugs.It may help to keep us all calmed down. Is that what they are afraid of? I want to know how do I make sure I can continue to get the meds I need to keep me out of pain.
I am really sorry Helen, I could feel your pain. I wish you could find some guideness on finding a good doctor or pain clinic that would help you. Find a attorney if you have too because I would think they would have to wean you off instead of taking you off half. These doctors are crazy but they are just afraid because of being fearful of getting in trouble. Doctors really should be helping people with pain but it’s the drug abusers that has caused all this crap. people die, people sell them, people constantly asking me for my pills.. I can’t wait till they can make a pain pill that you can’t get high from. people in real pain don’t get high, the pill goes straight to the pain instead of the head.. I have never been high off it ever. As far as the pot goes, I am with you. I think it’s a gift from God and can be used for many good things. Laws need to be changed and hopefully what’s happen in a few states can pass quickly in the others. Good luck Helen.. all I have for you is my prayers
Been taking oxycotin for over ten years because of a broken neck years ago that slowly caused more and more pain . Live in Houston and up to May of 2012 my Doc would test me and all tests came up pos for weed and she had no issue . Then in May she called and said I need a pain doc now and the first one I saw was a prick because of pot showing up in test . It was a shit hole ran by the worst money hungry doctor in the world , Dr. REZIK SAGER !! This a hole not only had a pain office he also had a pharmcy right there in it that he owned . Now I have a new doc who is ok but said either his drugs or street drugs so I can only take a few one hits a day or two after seeing him every month . I am always on edge stressed and let the smallest thing eat at me now , when I smaoked it was a few one hits mostly at night never more than that . I hate how I feel now I find no joy in anything and my Wife is getting fed up over me being mad at the world . But doctors like this REZIK SAQER need to be ran out of the country . I ve never been a hater but I truely hate this prick . Not because of the weed thing but because he’s getting rich over others pain . Of course he gives people with no insurance deals , but if you have insurance he rapes it and you . The crowd in his office is 70% a low class drug seeker type . Now anyone can over night find them selfs broke so its nothing aginst poor its just the type who know how to abuse the system . I am so damn mad right now thinking about it and just to think that a one hit of pot could ease my stress makes it worse . Some will say oh pot head or take a zanx or val ,no thanks and fuck you for thinking you can judge me .
What is the cut off level for thc that a pain management dr can fire a patient for? I was using marijuanna for severe back spasms and was upfront with my dr about it and he was happy because it gave me some what of a life back. Although its not a replacement drug for my pain medication but together it was helping a great amount. I was only taking on average 3-5 hits throughout the day for several years. I’ve had 2 fusions (4bolts,4screws,4Rods) a titanium cage and a titanium disc put into my lower lumbar region. Now my dr is saying if I show positive 1 more time they will have to release me as a patient. I’ve been reading website and some say 50 ng/ml and some say as low as 15-20 ng/ml. I have stopped using marijuanna because the benefits of my pain meds are a bit better than what the marijuanna will do by itself. But now back to having to lay in bed all the time. Before I quit marjuanna use I had some what of a life outside the house. Without the marijuanna my spasms are so serious and debilitating that I fall on a daily basis. I have fell into my oven causing burns, cut my head open numerous times, once requiring 8 stitches. Also without it I am taking my maximum amount of medication OxyContin & oxycodone each day. Prior to quitting marijuanna I sometimes could get by on almost half as much on a really good day.
been a pain ptient for a long time phentnyl patch oxycontin Roxicodone chronic valium my pcp has called me TFU totally fucked up hell I was on hydro 10/325 8 daily I have chronic fucking pain I went to California was given MMJ reccomdation then started having trouble getting meds come back to Tennessee got in to see a pcp at first no problem they knew I smoked not constant but I do smoke now all of a sudden they are weening me off roxi said I would have to see a phyc to keep getting my valium what does the word chronic mean at times I just want to put gun on my temple and end it but I love life I also found out I have hep c incurable probably at this stage so what difference does it make I just want a doctor to keep me comfortable it just does not matter no more I do not abuse my meds I have watched that happened to someone very close but I know I am RED FLAGGED the only thing I want is to be comfortable a legit pain patient what the fuck is wrog with this world THE USA
Gary, I have hep C and now they have a cure for most people. It takes about three months and isn’t near as bad to take the meds as before, so don’t give up. Sometimes Hep C doesn’t hurt a person either even if they don’t get the cure… so go to the doctors and see the scoop on yours. Sorry you are feeling depressed, chronic pain can get you down for sure. Try to find someone to talk too, don’t give up… something good might happen soon to help us all. I do understand though about the need to find help for chronic pain … just hang in there.. we never know what’s around the corner.
I’m having the same problem. I visit this site for the 1st time and couldn’t believe it, how everything’s being control this way. I’ve suffered carpal tunnel for years, hep C, high blood pressure and now a chronic back pain that gives me no life. After burying my husband almost 2 yrs. ago, putting my sick pup to sleep because he was sick after 11 yrs. having him, I was so depress and broken hearted, alone and smoking was the only thing that helped me with some anxiety attacks I started experiencing. I thought I was going to die once it was so bad. After going to the ER a few times, they couldn’t do nothing for it. My back pain doesn’t allow me to walk much or stand, the 5mg of oxycodone I take 3x’s a day is the only way to have a some sort of a life being that now I have no one to help in anything. By smoking MJ, it helped in my pain, especially with the depressions, I was crying every day. The pills weren’t enough, I’ve been on same dose for almost 4 yrs. They only last 4 hrs. on a good day, less on a bad one. I also drink one 50 mg. tramadol at bedtime or I’ll wake up in more pain and can’t sleep. I was wondering why my pain management doctor was doing drug test all of a sudden and now going on a 3 test. being embarrass, going in my records and looked at like a insect. I’m 56 yr. old already, tried and scare in what’s going to become of me with this deterging of my body. Being in pain everyday is not fun, not being able to do things and go out. Now I can’t have the freedom to smoke a little either. What about those that drink alcohol? is that next? when is our private life ours? with this internet already watching all of us. I could see this in hard drugs, but weed is harmless, I’ve smoked for yrs. and there were times when I didn’t for weeks. You control what you do yourself! with whatever meds you do to control your pain. if it weren’t for MJ which gives me the feeling to do things around the home, to relax my mind so the pain doesn’t take me over. It helped me too with the attacks too and not to mention my grief. I live near the beach when Sandy hit too, again I was alone through all this and still am. I felt so upset when my doctor asked me for another drug test, it was so degrading. Then they’re all judging you. Not everyone’s a criminal. After visiting here, I see it’s all governors doing this. May they all feel the pains we do maybe they’ll understand what we go through. It’s not fair in what they do, like a being a kid being told what to do, I have no rights. just be in pain. He had the nerve to tell me to volunteer, when I been telling him for yrs., that I hurt when I walk and can’t stand for long. With a budge in my L5 and really bad arthris that even my joins in my hands and feet changed, how can I? or I would, god I would.
Hang in there… times are changing. Unless they experience chronic pain, they don’t understand~ but things will change because they want our money > not because they care. I wish you lived closer I would of loved to help some. Try to get out more and make new friends. I know it’s hard but try. Best of luck and hang on > it’s going to be legal soon.
Marinol will give the same test results but if you have a script for it there’s none of the questions as if your smoking?? go figure, I guess if the doc prescribes you a pill it’s OK. Find a Doctor who will prescribe Marinol, it’s used for sickness brought on by your oxycodon and neurological problems
Also Marinol is used for gaining weight… anyone I knew who had it used it to gain weight. Mabye mikes advice and this will help someone. Best of luck.
My family doc cut me off and now I need to see a pain management doctor. I use MJ occassionally, I need a doctor in Florida, that will not crucify me for a positive THC test, HELP!!!
They might let it go the first time but they won’t let it go the second. They are really strict on pot. I am so glad I don’t smoke anymore.
Daytona area.
Sorry I don’t know anyone in that area. I am sure most pain clinics are run the same way however. Your doctor should of referred you to a clinic near you to give you what you needed. Expect a blood and urine test the first time you go and then every six months. It’s by law they do it. Good luck
The drug testng is now in Ky..My Dr will no longer prescribe Ambien, because I smoke a little pot..I do not take pain pills..This is Goverment getting involved in our Health Care..Governor Beshear came up with the KASPER LAW ( a Democrat) Innocent people are suffering from the law…Mostly our Seniors, which are forced to sumitt to a urine test..So many stories to tell..The drugs included in the Law..Pain killers, Cough Syrup, steroid meds, ADHD meds anti depressents,on and on..The Goverment think they are doctors..So if an insane person takes drugs or smokes pot, a doctor will not prescribe that person his physco meds..He will loose his job..
Everyone who uses opium based pills/meds for pain relief should use methadone for pain. Check it out online and research it. It works so much etter for severe long term pain and is way cheaper! Try 60 bucks a month versus 600 bucks! Three receptors are better than one in your brain and serum levels achieved in three weeks means maintaining a pain free life. Yes there are drawbacks to this, but the good outweighs the bad. I really do not know why doctors do not advise their patients except for greed? Why else? Check it out and you will find this works better and cost less and you can have your life back.
Oops! I forgot! I also got tested at my family doctor and in Delaware the Governor has signed a bill to catch anyone using a controlled substance of any kind if on a prescription for a pain med. I firmly believe the government is over-reaching and as a Libertarian, we need a grass roots voting drive to replace all Democrats and Republicans who are trying to become 1984’s Big Brother and restrict our freedoms. Marijuana use should be allowed by adults, but subjected to control just like booze. Why not? It is a hell of a lot less dangerous, isn’t it? It is the religious right wing nuts who want to control the masses and bend your will to their will, right? Please vote Libertarian and replace these over-bearing fools with a government of the people by the people and for the people!
Doctors fear one thing and one thing only…their patients forming a watchdog group centered around their individual office. Patients meeting in discussion groups or here online would virtually control everything in any given doctors office. Everything from the amount of time they keep you waiting to the denial of pain meds to the less than polite office staff. Just imagine how most people would feel about their own doctors treating patients in the manner refelected in these cases posted here. Imagine the power of actually boycotting a doctors office with other patients.Imagine an entire day of patients canceling appointments [24 hours ahead of time of course] in protest of the unfair treatment of another patient. Imagine a website that allows you to view what happened and to whom and why it happened at your doctors office on any given day. Doctor’s are licensed and therefore subject to challenges to their license. Mulitiple license challenges can close an office. Helping people manage pain should be your doctors top priority. Never use any doctor that doesn’t prescribe pain medication,they’re not real doctors.Your doctors office is a business. Always speak to you doctor as an equal. It’s kinda shameful what a lot of doctors are doing to cover their own ass.Having DR. before your name used to command respect. Those days are gone. Patients have the power in numbers.
Sad though I’m running into the same issue! I’m scared to death if my Dr finds out I use it when I physically can’t do anything else he’ll fire me if it comes back with positive THC. I’ve had 9 back surgeries and have been diagnosed with 6 bulging discs, neuropathy, tethered spinal cord (meaning its fraying apart) and an extremely rare spinal cord disorder called Idiopathic Spinal Cord Herniation. Back in 2012 there was 1 Dr in the U.S. that could put my spinal cord back into the dura sac, although it wouldn’t take away any of my pain. Well its been 2 yrs ago & the patch held up for 1yr. My spinal cord is out of the dura sac again, & they won’t do surgery again to repair it this time because they say I have to wait till I’m paralyzed first because the risk is to high doing the same procedure twice. I can still walk, but very very short distances & I pay for it if I do ANY physical activity at all. No cleaning, dishes, cooking, sitting or standing for long periods, bending often, squatting, ect. This condition has effected my entire body! Everyday every minute in chronic pain, spasming, numbness, tingling, loss of reflexes,loss of sensation to hot/cold on my left side of my body I could go on & on but some are rather embarrassing. I’m 34 yrs old and this has been going on since 2003 and some things came on gradually as others were rapid! It took until 2012 when a great Indian radiologist had seen this in India and I got extremely lucky after having close to 30-40 tests prior to this he found it, it was wrote on the radiology report but my back Dr didn’t even catch that…instead he caught the 2 bulging discs around that area T-6 & T-7. He sent me to the pain management Dr to get esi steroid injections when he noticed the diagnosis, then called & spoke to that radiologist. Anyways I live in Missouri, & I found the one & only Dr in the U.S. at that time (I believe there’s now one in California) I seen him in MI for a consultation, & was scheduled for surgery the following month. I was this foreign drs 6th patient… Yes a little scary. After getting in & performing the surgery I was the worst case documented so far. Only one other case was the spinal cord out of the dura sac in one area completely. Sadly this man came in paralyzed & still is…. Mine was out in 2 area. They were dumbfounded on how I was still able to walk! I knew how & why…power of prayer. Needless to say again the problems are continuing to get worse. I can’t sleep but about 2 hrs at a time averaging about 4 hrs a night every night. I was told to try using marijuana to help relax my muscles, help with pain, & help me sleep!!! It works, it helps more than any medication they’ve ever given to me! Without using it at bedtime again 4 hrs total all day and night is what I get. I don’t use it during the day unless the pain is so intense I can’t take it. What’s bad is no hospital around here knows anything about this condition. Its not on web MD, you can Google it & that’s how I found the Dr in MI Dr Paul Park in Michigan at the university of Michigan state hospital. There’s a huge documents written by 6 drs with picture, symptoms, ect. Basically I’m on my own along with this one Dr I see to help manage my pain, as he stays in touch with my Dr in Michigan. I’m so scared if & when they do a random drug screen he’ll fire me, although he’s always apologizing to me that he can’t do anything more besides give me prescriptions & occur esi steroid injections in my lumber area where the other 4 bulging discs are (but L-5 S-1 was fused and a laminectomy was done on the other discs above.
If everyone had to expierence daily chronic debilitating pain every minute of everyday I think it would be passed & legalized in every state. I only do 3-5 puffs before bed as I said unless pain is so high. Again no hospital here can do anything except load me up with tons of narcotics… Now you tell me what’s better…tons of narcotics, or a few drags of marijuana?!
If interested in knowing about this condition Idiopathic Spinal Cord Herniation as I’m sure so many people have & haven’t been correctly diagnosed go to this website, scroll to the bottom of the pg & click on “view full PDF” If any questions I’d be happy to respond. It’s my hope to spread the word of this condition as again I know people are suffering & have been for yrs & aren’t being diagnosed correctly because its rare & the drs are uneducated about it. There was a little over 100 cases when this article was written in 2007. God bless each one of you dealing with chronic daily pain as my prayers go out to everyone & to pass this law for us to get relief without fear of the law or loosing our drs!
http://pubs.rsna.org/doi/abs/10.1148/rg.282075030
The only suggestion I have is to ask the Dr. to prescribe you Marinol. I struggled with the problem your having at the Pain Management until I met one Dr. who suggested I try this to help the sickness that comes along with using high doses of opiates. To my pleasure it helped the sickness, it also helped ease the pain with the neuropathy in my legs and feet. This drug shows up as THC in your system so if you can get the prescription you’ll be safe from the testing. I also have epilepsy and since I started the Marinol I haven’t had one seizure, it’s been over three years now.
The only other solution is to refuse to test, and get everyone else to do the same. If we all refused to take the test these offices would stop the unneeded procedure that has nothing to do with your health and no medical benefits for the patient. One month of no patients and these archaic rules would be put to the side. One month of everyone refusing would put most pain management clinics out of business. when business drops so would the testing, but it would take a concerted effort on most everyone who has to use the PM Dr’s. the last time I was ask to test I refused and nothing happened. The nurse didn’t like it but the Dr. still saw me, while setting in the waiting room several other people said they were going to do the same. This Dr. will either change his policy or loose all his business. My insurance won’t pay for the testing and every time I am tested, a $600 bill comes to the house, I have refused to pay these bills. It helps me in no way medically and no one should have to pay a bill for something that has no medical benefit. That’s just my 2 cents worth, but we need a nation wide boycott of any clinic who tests for any drug not prescribed to you.
Thanks MS, I’ll look into that drug for sure & see if its able to be prescribed in Missouri. I as well will have to pay if they pull a random on me. I will refuse it for that reason for sure! Thanks again!
Anyone know if Marinol is prescribed for the conditions I listed above and covered by insurance? If not covered anyone have the amt they have to pay for a monthly script? Thanks!
Is 5 nl affair cutoff level for marijuana
I apologize I meant a fair cut off level
I find this behavior of many pain management doctors to be abhorrent and totally against their Hippocratic Oath to Do No Harm.
It is even worse that Federal Government Lackies feel that they have any right to dictate a patient’s treatment by playing the Bully Card on (what i can only call…hapless)doctors.
Wife had to a “pain Specialist as her FNP could no longer write Rx for Hydrocodone for her failng knees. First visit was drug test first. she had small amount of Thc. She was told she was a drug addict and The Clinic and DR. will not Treat Her This is Texas after all.
Doctors and pain clinics won’t describe pain meds if you have thc in your blood. It’s against the law for them to do so. I am not sure about clinics where pot is legal but I don’t even think they are allowed then either. You can get mad at doctors but it’s really not their fault. Look around at all the people who are abusing the drug and they are the reason.
aH- It’s a sticky wicket. I work with a company that produces drug screens. Two years ago, we produced one that did not include thc (at the request of legal thc States and other sympathetic Docs).
There are Doctors that would like to avoid any positive results and eliminating the thc value worked well for thier practice.
The demand for this type of device is too low to be profitable. ABMC, Kinderhook, NY
is a dr. bound by law to refuse writing scripts for pain meds if patient tests positive for thc? or is it at his disscresion?
We have mentally ill people walking around without their meds..They can`t pass a urine test because they have THC in their systems.. Dr`s can no longer write their scripts for the meds which they need to function..This is not just about pain meds…
Doctors today are afraid of there own shadow!!I have been a severe pain patient for 20 plus years and now my so called doctor won’t prescribe ANY medication at all!! I get called in at least once a week for drug testing and have to pay for it myself, and I haven’t even failed 1 test!! Oregon doctors are so afraid they will loose there HIGH LIFE they leave there true patients out in the cold. Thank-you DR. Eric Boehmer, you little prick!!
I hope once the federal law is changed then pot won’t be class one or whatever it is so they have to check for that anymore. I just wish it would hurry up and pass. People like us who are in pain and not abusing meds want to get off or at least limit the pain meds we take. Thank you to all the doctors who still care about patients in pain. I just wish the ones abusing the pills get caught so people like us can try to live life.
My research shows the following to be true: The doctor told me that “the DEA requires him to drug test all his clients, that he has no choice, it is the law.”
In fact, there is no law requiring clinics to drug screen patients for marijuana. “It’s BS,” says Hiatt. Not a single case is known in which pain doctors have been sued or prosecuted for allowing medical marijuana use along with opiates.
In fact, almost 60 studies have been done worldwide that show the concomitant use of medical grade MJ and opioids can and does reduce chronic pain patients’ need for opiates by 50%.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Had stroke in feb 2013 and the paralysis pain began after 6 weeks and gp helped just enough with only 25mg of hydro a day. And after 2yrs his nurse called to say they are finding me a pain clinic..and I am all about the TRUTH as i get older for sure(58 yrs old now). Pain clinic #1 was told up front by me that i smoked pot in the evenings.. they just looked at me, did not piss test me and then after some krazy xrays gave me 5mg more per day than my GP!! not much help.. Soon after they called to advise they were CLOSING and said this clinic was owned by a chiropractor. I was seen a 2nd and last time by them and then a month later i was at CPS pain clinic in Bartlett Tn. Again i filled our paperwork and advised i had smoked pot within the last 3 years.. another page then asked if i had smoked pot over the past 2 days..i checked yes.. I soon saw a nice very young gal Doc who advised what they would give me..which would be 2 long lasting(time released) sorta new hydro and another 10mg tab for daytime help.. i said this is what i needed 2 yrs ago when i woke up crying from the pain.. and then came the BUT.. since i said i had smoked recently she said my piss test would be BAD so her hands were tied and i walked out with NOTHING.. not even giving one a chance for 30 days to not smoke and have a better piss test..Since ive gotten past the worst i will not go back and let this added bureaucracy take $50 bucks just to go to pain clinic..terrible laws by folks with no common sense… i do agree that folks on POISON drugs should not have meds but for smokers of Gods Green Plant.. Give Me a Break.. but until something happens i will not get a break due to these new laws/rules. Very Cruel..@!
Sincerely,
JC
I am going through the same thing with Northbay down in N. Cali, I was on hydrocodone but went to pain management to get more relief, I had to sign a contract no more medical cannabis, I was using it for sleep, appetite (due to Northbay messing up my insides after four colonoscopys) and pain, I have let these Doc’s know that I was on 120 mg daily of Avinza and before 40 mg daily of methadone but chose to quit due to overseas work for the Govt. and my recent MRI’s are way worst then before, I now get 4 hours of sleep and have lost 10 lbs in three weeks (down to 92 lbs, 5″ 5″) and my pain level is worst with the pain management doc doubling my hydrcodone, my question is I wonder how many pain patients who get kicked off due to one dirty urine test will effectively go to the streets to get their pain meds and maybe even eventually start using heroin, I mean you can go into a pharmacy and get syringes, no questions………….Sometimes I wonder where these idiots got their brains
I was going to pain management and getting Oxycodone. I had to take a urine test and they fo THC so they discharged me. I have Condi pain so where do I go from here? My pain is not going away, but the pain Dr. are and leaving me to lay here and die in pain, I’m old and they don’t care what happens.This is why some ppl turn to the streets to get what they can to help with the pain. I live. Alone and jt is hard for me to even cook for myself.I wake up crying in pain.I only had a trace of the THC in me, I was seeing if that would help with my pain, but the med. Helped so like I said they will find me here alone on the foor or something because I can’t help myself. See you in Heaven
I live in Az. My pain dr told me to try mmj. I did cut my pain Mads in half. Been in same clinic for 3 years they got a new dr now I can’t use mmj. I just spent 150.00 for card 150.00 for dr visit to get card 50.00 for gas and 80.00 for motel. This pissed me off. Wake up America. My is much less harmful than pain meds. I’d go to straight mmj but I have to much pain. We need to change the laws. Anyone know of a pain dr in phoenix or Tucson that allows mmj
How about the same thing going on here in alabama. I have facet hypertrophy, degenerative disc disease, sacrolitiitis, you name it this back hurts from yrs of doing cna and lpn work. recently went to pain management and on thd very furst day given a urind test and givd a precription opiate. if the doctor would have told me I was going to have to give a urine test I would have told him I smoke to help with pain and to have a appetite, but this guy was all sbout the money. he just wanted to know if I was there for the injection-which he had tried on me several times thur the yrs with ni good results, or the hard drug he was giving. well it ended up being that pain med give made me sick to my stomach, n/v, then badly consconstipated, during my second visit of course I was told of the positive thc in my urine, which I did not lie about in the first place. as I was telling him about the side effects of the drug he was giving me and my wish to try something other then preciption addiction drug hs became angry and told me it was either that or the steroids injections. I just wanted something to take when I just hurt so bad to take only if needed, not a drug thats going to keep me constipated with in the long run get addicted to. so with that I will not ho back, he does listen to my concerns nor know what I have been through because he didnt care.
I to have had my narcotic meds pulled. I somehow thought my normal test and the fact I got my ommp card from the prescribing doctor would help. Is there a doctor who could help me my name is john gardner and I can be reached at 541-997-9569.
I to have had my pain meds pulled. Is there a doctor on or near the central oregon coast who could help me
. Thanks john gardner 541-997-9569
How can a substance be legalized for medicinal use and be denied by a local health care system in the same state where it’s legal. These patients are using marijuana to ease their pain. The pain clinic patients are the people who need medical marijuana the most. I don’t understand why can’t the states work with the pain clinics and medical clinics to stop penalizing these patients who are not committing any crimes, they are law abiding citizens. The pain clinics want to continue to give patients these opiates that are eventually life threatening. Once my friend started using medical marijuana he stopped using his prescription Vicodin. He only uses a fentanyl patch. His doctor recently, did a urine test and advised him to stop using the marijuana. These patients need help and if the state has legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal use, the doctor should not drop the patient. I understand the doctor who would counsel a patient but to deny them service is just not constitutional; the patient is not doing anything illegal in their state. These patients need help and they need help now. These doctor’s don’t care about their patients, they care MORE about their bottom line $$$.
I also was going to a pain clinic and I got tested and they found marihuana in my system and now they wont give me my pain pills anymore,,,and today they told me they put my name on the national opiates list of do not prescribe opiates to me !!! my lower back is very very bad.. and they just don’t give a fuck any more… so what about my bad pain,,, I cant do anything about it… I guess suffer always!!!!! I am just FUCKED!!!!!
We need to change this fear based attitude that is not based on fact. Our Government is taking our freedoms away one by one UNDER THE GUISE THAT WE WILL BE SAFER! HOW? HOW? is a man or woman endangering anyone by growing a pot plant for himself putting anyone in danger?? It’s fear and next is the right to have a gun. The founding fathers knew better! What are you going to do nobody but government has weapons. LET ME SEE …WHEN HAS TOTAL COTROL OVER EVERYBODY EVER BEEN GOOD JUST ONE TIME! ONE. THOSE who trade freedom for security WILL GET nor DESERVE NEITHER. PEOPLE need a history lesson. Think Who writes the true history the winner? or the loser? If your balls weren’t attached they would come up with a reason to take them. Maybe they are working on a argument now. How about, If men were unics we would virtually eliminate rape?
WOW!!! I hear all you people whining about the DEA & the Government because they are taking your shit!!SO FUCKING WHAT. WHY DON’T YOU GET UP OFF YOUR ASSES & DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!??!These past 7 years I have wondered what happened to all the American Spirit that was around when I was growing up? I’ll tell what happened -BARRACK & MICHELLE OBUMMER!THE ISLAMIC DOGS WHO UNFORTUNATELY MANIPULATED THEIR WAY IN TO BECOMING OUR FIRST FAMILY FOR 8 VERY EXPENSIVE & LONG YEARS.I got my pills taken from too and it’s a BITCH trust me I understand- I have had to find a new clinic 4xs now & I don’t like it anymore than you!!!
I’d should verify with you here. Which isn’t one thing I usually do! I enjoy studying a publish that will make folks think. Additionally, thanks for allowing me to remark!
I just experienced this. I can’t take nsaids because of my stomach. Doc gave me some Vicodin for an old compression fracture and extrusion at c6-7. I can’t take nsaids because of my stomach. My pain is straight up burning and muscle spasms. I take one at bedtime when I’m really hurting bad. I used 30 tablets in the last 4 months. I went in today today to get a refill and the doc told me I have to take a pee test and be put in the pm program. Not sure what I’m going to do? I’ve had 5 hernia repairs and still have residual nut pain. I’ve had 4 left and 3 right knee surgeries. I’ve had 4 right shoulder surgeries. My sanctuary used to be my bed but now I can’t get comfortable any which way. I’m on the heating pad from early afternoon till the wife comes to bed. I also developed Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency a couple years ago. Residuals from acute pancreatitis from an ERCP a decade earlier. Lost some weight. No appetite. Nausea. IBS. I guess I need some better weed?
I have used marijuana for years for back pain and it has helped considerably. Now I go to a pain center who tells me I can’t use it and I can’t use Xanax for anxiety or insomnia and I can’t use ambien for insomnia. The pain center says they don’t want me taking it. I am thinking about saying to hell with them and wish I could find a Dr. who would prescribe pain meds even though I want to smoke marijuana. It’s absolutely ridiculous.
It’s a nightmare, they are the ones that push it on you instead of the pain pump you should of just gotten.. History shows us when this happen,(there lack of compassion) , that many that were in charge, you read later , some how there child pays. Sad. Because they slaved us, India sales a pill for .85 cents, we pay 8,500 for the same pill, same manufacture. Our President decided to go with the pharmaceutical lobbyist , so this he switch, this will hurt millions.. Plant your food, China just sold off 80 billion of McDonalds, watch those stocks. Going to go down, don’t sale your gold, China , we paid our debt off during Bush. Bad Move..
I have had 2 cervical spine surgeries, the last a total reconstruct (breaking my neck, adding bone from my hip, 2 plates, 16 screws in cervical spine). My opiates are not keeping me at a manageable level, and cannibus overcomes the lethargy I get from the opiates, as well as helping with pain levels and general attitude. Im in NC, and will lose my pain dr. if I test pos. Yet I can drive thru a store and buy alcohol from my driver’s seat, as well as tobacco. Both have caused much more harm than cannibus EVER will, our gov’t owns patents on medical uses of cannibus, yet refuses to reclassify it so that these facts can be tested and properly proven. WTF? Evidently money is far more important than the wellbeing of americans.